Home and Building Fire Prevention
A fire can engulf a
structure in a matter of minutes. Understanding the basic characteristics of fire and
learning the proper safety practices can be the key to surviving a house or building fire.
BEFORE
Install smoke
detectors.
Check them once a month and change the batteries at least once a year.
Develop and practice an
escape plan. Make sure all family members know what to do in a fire.
Draw a floor plan
with at least two ways of escaping every room. Choose a safe meeting place outside the
house.
Practice alerting
other household members. It is a good idea to keep a bell and a flashlight in each bedroom
for this purpose.
Practice evacuating
the building blindfolded. In a real fire situation, the amount of smoke generated by a
fire will most likely make it impossible to see.
Practice staying low
to the ground when escaping.
Feel all doors before
opening them. If the door is hot, get out another way.
Learn to stop, drop
to the ground, and roll if clothes catch fire.
Post emergency numbers
near telephones.
However, be aware that if a fire threatens your home, you should not place the call to
your emergency services from inside the home. It is better to get out first and place the
call from somewhere else.
Purchase collapsible
ladders at hardware stores and practice using them.
Install A-B-C type fire
extinguishers in the home and teach family members how to use them.
Do not store
combustible materials in closed areas or near a heat source.
Cooking
Keep the stove area clean and clear of combustibles such as bags, boxes, and other
appliances. If a fire starts, put a lid over the burning pan or use a fire extinguisher.
Be careful. Moving the pan can cause the fire to spread. Never pour water on grease fires.
Check electrical
wiring.
Replace wiring if
frayed or cracked.
Make sure wiring is
not under rugs, over nails, or in high traffic areas. Do not overload outlets or extension
cords.
Outlets should have
cover plates and no exposed wiring.
Only purchase
appliances and electrical devices that have a label indicating that they have been
inspected by a testing laboratory such as Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) or Factory
Mutual (FM).
Contact your local fire
department or American
Red Cross chapter for more information on fire safety.
DURING
Get out as quickly and
as safely as possible.
Use the stairs to
escape.
When evacuating, stay
low to the ground.
If possible, cover mouth with a cloth to avoid inhaling smoke and gases.
Close doors in each
room after escaping to delay the spread of the fire.
If in a room with a
closed door.
If smoke is pouring
in around the bottom of the door or it feels hot, keep the door closed.
Open a window to
escape or for fresh air while awaiting rescue.
If there is no smoke
at the bottom or top and the door is not hot, then open the door slowly.
If there is too much
smoke or fire in the hall, slam the door shut.
Call the fire
department from a location outside the house.
AFTER
Give first aid where
appropriate.
Seriously injured or burned victims should be transported to professional medical help
immediately.
Stay out of damage
buildings.
Return home only when local fire authorities say it is safe.
Look for structural
damage.
Discard food that has
been exposed to heat, smoke, or soot.
Contact insurance
agent.
Don't discard damaged goods until after an inventory has been taken. Save receipts for
money relating to fire loss.
Heating Devices
Heating devices such as portable heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces demand safe
operation. Use portable heaters in well-ventilated rooms only. Refuel kerosene heaters
outdoors only. Have chimneys and wood stoves cleaned annually. Buy only approved heaters
and follow the manufacturers' directions.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors more than double the chance of surviving a fire. Smoke detectors sense
abnormal amounts of smoke or invisible combustion gases in the air. They can detect both
smoldering and burning fires. At least one smoke detector should be installed on every
level of a structure. Test the smoke detectors each month and replace the batteries at
least once a year. Purchase smoke detectors labeled by the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL)
or Factory Mutual (FM).
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FYI