Fire Safety Tips

A wide range of natural disasters occurs within the United States every year. Natural disasters can have a devastating effect on you and your home. The U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to use the following safety tips to help protect yourself, your family and your home from the potential threat of fire during or after an earthquake. You can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a fire casualty by being able to identify potential hazards and following the outlined safety tips.

Some Types of Fire Related Hazards Present During and After an Earthquake

• Appliances, furniture, and household products can shift, fall, and spill.
• Gas, chemical and electrical hazards may be present.
• Leaking gas lines, damaged or leaking gas propane containers, and leaking vehicle gas tanks could explode or ignite.
• Pools of water or even appliances can be electrically charged.

Chemical Safety

• Look for flammable liquids like gasoline, lighter fluid, and paint thinner that may have spilled.
• Thoroughly clean the spill and place containers in a well-ventilated area.
• Keep combustible liquids away from heat sources.

Electrical Safety

• If you can safely get to the main breaker or fuse box, turn off the power.
• Look for items that might have jarred loose during the earthquake.
• Appliances or power connectors could create a fire hazard.
• Assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged. This includes cable TV feeds.
• Look for and replace frayed or cracked extension and appliance cords, loose prongs, and plugs.
• Exposed outlets and wiring could present a fire and life safety hazard.
• Appliances that emit smoke or sparks should be repaired or replaced.
• Have a licensed electrician check your home for damage.

Gas Safety

• Smell and listen for leaky gas connections. If you believe there is a gas leak, immediately leave the house and leave the door(s) open.
• Never strike a match. Any size flame can spark an explosion.
• Before turning the gas back on, have the gas system checked by a professional.

Generator Safety

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines when using generators.
• Use a generator or other fuel-powered machines outside the home. CO fumes are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors.
• Use the appropriate sized and type power cords to carry the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires.
• Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up or damage to a cord may go unnoticed.
• Never connect generators to another power source such as power lines. The reverse flow of electricity or ‘backfeed’ can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker.

Heating Safety

• Kerosene heaters may not be legal in your area and should only be used where approved by authorities.
• Do not use the kitchen oven range to heat your home. In addition to being a fire hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes.
• Alternative heaters need their space. Keep anything combustible at least 3 feet away.
• Make sure your alternative heaters have ‘tip switches.’ These ‘tip switches’ are designed to automatically turn off the heater in the event they tip over.
• Only use the type of fuel recommended by the manufacturer and follow suggested guidelines.
• Never refill a space heater while it is operating or still hot.
• Refuel heaters only outdoors.
• Make sure wood stoves are properly installed, and at least 3 feet away from combustible materials. Ensure they have the proper floor support and adequate ventilation.
• Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby carpets, furniture or other combustible items.

and Remember…

• Be carefli when using candles. Keep the flame away from combustible objects and out of the reach of children.
• Some smoke alarms may be dependent on your home’s electrical service and colid be inoperative during a power outage. Check to see if your smoke alarm uses a back-up battery and install a new battery at least once a year.
• Smoke alarms sholid be installed on every level of your home.
• All smoke alarms sholid be tested monthly. All batteries sholid be replaced with new ones at least once a year.
• If there is a fire hydrant near your home, keep it clear of debris for easy access by the fire department.

A wide range of natural disasters occurs within the United States every year. Natural disasters can have a devastating effect on you and your home. The U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to use the following safety tips to help protect yourself, your family and your home from the potential threat of fire during or after a flood. You can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a fire casualty by being able to identify potential hazards and following the outlined safety tips.

Types of Fire Related Hazards Present During and After a Flood

• Generators are often used during power outages. Unless generators are properly used and maintained, they can be very hazardous.
• Alternative heating devices used incorrectly create fire hazards. Proper use and maintenance can decrease the possibility of a fire.
• Leaking above ground gas lines, damaged or leaking gas or propane containers, and leaking vehicle gas tanks may explode or ignite.
• Pools of water and even appliances can be electrically charged. This can result in a dangerous electrical fire.
• Appliances that have been exposed to water can short and become a fire hazard.

Chemical Safety

• Look for combustible liquids like gasoline, lighter fluid, and paint thinner that may have spilled. Thoroughly clean the spill and place containers in a well-ventilated area.
• Keep combustible liquids away from heat sources.

Electrical Safety

• If your home has sustained flood or water damage, and you can safely get to the main breaker or fuse box, turn off the power.
• Assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged. This includes cable TV feeds.
• Be aware of and avoid downed utility lines. Report downed or damaged power lines to the utility company or emergency services.
• Remove standing water, wet carpets and furnishings. Air dry your home with good ventilation before restoring power.
• Have a licensed electrician check your home for damage.

Generator safety

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines when using generators.
• Use a generator or other fuel-powered machines outside the home. CO fumes are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors.
• Use the appropriate sized and type power cords to carry the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires.
• Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up or damage to a cord may go unnoticed.
• Always refuel generators outdoors.
• Never connect generators to another power source such as power lines. The reverse flow of electricity or ‘backfeed’ can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker.

Heating safety

• Kerosene heaters may not be legal in your area and should only be used where approved by authorities.
• Do not use the kitchen oven range to heat your home. In addition to being a fire hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes.
• Alternative heaters need their space. Keep anything combustible at least 3 feet away.
• Make sure your alternative heaters have ‘tip switches.’ These ‘tip switches’ are designed to automatically turn off the heater in the event they tip over.
• Only use the type of fuel recommended by the manufacturer and follow suggested guidelines.
• Never refill a space heater while it is operating or still hot.
• Refuel heaters only outdoors.
• Make sure wood stoves are properly installed, and at least 3 feet away from combustible materials. Ensure they have the proper floor support and adequate ventilation.
• Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby carpets, furniture or other combustible items.

and Remember…

• Do not use alternative heating devices to dry clothes or furnishings.
• Be careful when using candles. Keep the flame away from combustible objects and out of the reach of children.
• Never thaw frozen pipes with a blow torch or other open flame. Use hot water or a device, like a hand-held dryer, evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Some smoke alarms may be dependent on your home’s electrical service and could be inoperative during a power outage. Check to see if your smoke alarm uses a back-up battery and install a new battery at least once a year.
• Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home.
• All smoke alarms should be tested monthly. All batteries should be replaced with new ones at least once a year.
• If there is a fire hydrant near your home, keep it clear of debris for easy access by the fire department.

Colleges and Universities

Every year college and university students experience a growing number of fire-related emergencies. There are several causes for these fires, however most are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention.

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) offers these tips to help reduce and prevent the loss of life and property in dormitory and university housing fires.

The Facts

In cases where fire fatalities occurred on college campuses, alcohol was a factor. There is a strong link between alcohol and fire deaths. In more than 50% of adult fire fatalities, victims were under the influence at the time of the fire. Alcohol abuse often impairs judgment and hampers evacuation efforts. Cooking is the leading cause of fire injuries on college campuses, closely followed by careless smoking and arson.

The Cause

Many factors contribute to the problem of dormitory housing fires.

• Improper use of 911 notification systems delays emergency response.
• Student apathy is prevalent. Many are unaware that fire is a risk or threat in the environment.
• Evacuation efforts are hindered since fire alarms are often ignored.
• Building evacuations are delayed due to lack of preparation and preplanning.
• Vandalized and improperly maintained smoke alarms and fire alarm systems inhibit early detection of fires.
• Misuse of cooking appliances, overloaded electrical circuits and extension cords increase the risk of fires.

Safety Precautions

• Provide students with a program for fire safety and prevention.
• Teach students how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system.
• Install smoke alarms in every dormitory room and every level of housing facilities.
• Maintain and regularly test smoke alarms and fire alarm systems. Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester.
• Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards. Ask your local fire department for assistance.
• Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly.
• Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings, and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students.
• Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously.
• Do not overload electrical outlets and make sure extension cords are used properly.
• Learn to properly use and maintain heating and cooking appliances.

Fire injuries and deaths can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!

• Install a smoke alarm on every floor of your home, even the basement.
• Install a smoke alarm outside every sleeping area. Ideally, install smoke alarms in every sleeping area, too.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Change the batteries at least once a year-maybe at Daylight Savings Time or on your birthday.
• Teach children what your smoke alarm sounds like and what to do if they hear it-get out and crawl low under smoke.
• Never disable a smoke alarm (like for cooking smoke). Consider alarms with hush buttons.
• Never remove a smoke alarm battery for some other use, like a radio or video game.
• Keep smoke alarms clean. Vacuum them often.
• Replace smoke alarms after 10 years.
• Choose smoke alarms that come with 10-year batteries.

Important

The United States Fire Administration recommends the installation of both ionization and photoelectric or dual sensor smoke alarms. For extra safety, install smoke alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas.

Smoke Alarm Facts

• Having a working smoke alarm cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half.
• Nine out of 10 homes have smoke alarms, but millions of those alarms do not work.
• Missing or dead batteries are the main causes of non-working smoke alarms.
• More than 3 out of 5 home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!

• Make and practice a fire escape plan.
• Plan for two ways to escape from each room.
• Plan for everyone in your home-including babies and others who need help to escape.
• Pick a place to meet after you escape to check that everyone got out.
• Practice your escape plan every month.
• Practice getting out with your eyes closed, crawling low to the floor.
• Involve children in making and practicing your escape plan.
• Teach children to never hide during a fire-they must get out and stay out.
• Clear toys, boxes, and other debris from exits.
• Check that windows open easily. Fix any that stick.
• Be sure that security bars on doors and windows have a quick-release latch, and everyone knows how to open them.
• Never open a door that feels hot. Escape another way.
• Escape first, then call for help.

Escape Plan Facts

• Escape plans help you get out of a burning home quickly.
• A home can fill with thick, black smoke in just minutes.
• A small flame can become a major fire in less than 30 seconds.

Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!

• In a fire, get out right away. Don’t pause to gather belongings.
• Teach children not to hide, but to get out right away.
• Escape first, then call for help.
• Never go back into a burning home for any reason.
• If someone is missing, tell firefighters – they are trained and equipped for rescues.

“Get Out, Stay Out” Facts

• Going back into a burning home can be deadly.
• The heat from a fire can scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.
• Breathing even small amounts of smoke can make you confused or pass out.

Fire injuries and deaths can be prevented! A few easy steps can save your life!

• Home fire sprinklers may reduce fire injuries and deaths, protect your home investment and irreplaceable family possessions, and decrease insurance costs.
• Include fire sprinklers in your plans when building a new home.
• Think about adding sprinklers to your existing home, especially when remodeling.

Home Fire Sprinkler Facts

• The combination of working smoke alarms and home fire sprinklers lowers the risk of death from fire by more than 80%.
• For homes with residents at high risk of fire injury and death (children, older adults, people with disabilities), sprinklers offer an important added measure of protection.
• Home fire sprinklers automatically contain a fire and prevent it from spreading, reducing damage to the home.
• Only the sprinklers in the fire area are activated.
• Sprinklers add only about 1% to the cost of building a home.

Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!

For safety’s sake, buy a fried turkey from a grocery store, specialty food store, or restaurant instead of frying it yourself. If you decide to fry a turkey, follow these tips to prevent fires and injuries:

• Place the turkey fryer on a level surface, in an open area away from homes, fences, sheds, and other structures.
• Never place the fryer on a wooden deck or porch or in a garage or carport.
• Leave at least 2 feet between the fryer and the propane tank.
• Keep the fryer in full view at all times.
• Keep children and pets away from the fryer.
• Check the oil temperature often. If you see smoke coming from the oil, turn off the gas right away.
• Completely thaw and dry the turkey before frying. Adding a partially frozen or wet turkey to the pot makes the oil splatter a lot, causing a fire or explosion hazard.
• Cover bare skin before adding or removing food from the fryer.
• Raise and lower food slowly to avoid splattering or spilling oil.
• Use the right amount of oil. To find out how much oil to use, read the fryer’s instructions, or:
• Place the turkey in the pot.
• Fill with water until the turkey is covered by ½ inch of water.
• Remove the turkey and pat dry.
• Mark the water level in the pot.
• Dump the water, dry the pot, and fill oil to the level marked.
• If the fryer catches fire, call 911 right away. Do not try to put it out with water.

Turkey Fryer Fire Facts

• Cooking fires peak on Thanksgiving Day.
• Between 1998 and 2005, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had 112 reports of fires or burns related to turkey fryers.
• Most fires from turkey fryers occur while the oil is being heated, before the turkey is added.
• Contact with hot oil can cause serious burns.

Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!

• Keep battery-powered lanterns or flashlights to use instead of candles if the power goes out. If you must use candles, keep them out of reach of children and away from anything that could burn.
• When using a generator, use the right size and type of power cords. Always run a generator outdoors, never in enclosed areas like basements or garages.
• Never connect a generator to your home’s electrical circuits without automatic-interrupt devices.
• Leave at least 3 feet between portable space heaters, fireplaces, or wood stoves and anything that can burn. (Heating Tips)
• Turn off space heaters when you go to sleep.
• Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
• Never thaw frozen pipes with a blow torch or other open flame.
• If your home is damaged by a storm, smell and listen for gas leaks. If you think there’s a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and get everyone outside quickly.
• If you suspect a gas leak, do not smoke or strike a match.
• Call the power company to report downed power lines.
• If there is a fire hydrant near your home, keep it free from snow and debris.

After a Storm – Fire Facts

• Portable heaters are the leading cause of death in home heating fires.
• Candles cause more than 13,000 home fires each year.
• Downed power lines are a fire hazard, as well as being an electrocution hazard.
• Appliances that have been exposed to water can short and start a fire.

Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!

Barbecue Grills

• Keep grills at least 10 feet from siding and eaves.
• Never use a grill in a garage or carport.
• Before using a gas grill, check hoses and connections for leaks.
• Check that the venturi tubes-where gas and air mix-are not blocked.
• Never overfill a propane tank.
• Consumers should only use propane tanks that have a three-pronged valve: this is a sign that there is an overfill protection device in the tanks.
• When lighting a charcoal grill, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add fluid after the fire is started.
• To dispose of hot coals, soak them with water and stir to make sure the fire is out.
• Never put coals in plastic, wood, or paper containers.
• Wear snug-fitting clothing when grilling.

Fireworks

• For safety’s sake, leave fireworks to the professionals.
• Stay back at least 500 feet from professional fireworks displays.
• If you do use fireworks, light them outdoors, away from dry grass.
• Always have a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Never let children light or play with fireworks.
• Wear snug-fitting clothing while lighting fireworks.

Summer Fire Facts

• Barbecue grills caused about 900 home fires and 3,500 outdoor fires in 2002.
• Half of all grill-related home fires begin on a balcony or unenclosed porch.
• More U.S. fires are reported on the 4th of July than on any other day. Fireworks account for half of those fires.
• In 2004, fireworks started about 1,600 structure fires.
• The tip of a sparkler burns at more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit-hot enough to cause third-degree burns.