United States
Search and Rescue Task Force
Fire Safety at Home
Facts & Figures
15 of every 16 homes (94%) in the United States have at least one smoke alarm.
One-half of home fire deaths occur in the 6% of homes with no smoke alarms.
Homes with smoke alarms (whether or not they are operational) typically have a death rate that is 40-50% less than the rate for homes without alarms.
In three of every 10 reported fires in homes equipped with smoke alarms, the devices did not work. Households with non-working smoke alarms now outnumber those with no smoke alarms.
Why do smoke alarms fail? Most often because of missing, dead or disconnected batteries!
Tips For Safety In The Home
Install smoke detectors on every level of the home in rooms, stair landings, and passageways. Test them monthly and change the batteries twice a year.
Don't install smoke alarms near windows, outside doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
Don't paint your smoke alarms; paint or other decorations could keep them from working when you most need it.
Regularly vacumming or dusting your smoke alarm following manufacturer's instructions can help keep it working properly.
Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm.
Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
Consider installing automatic fire sprinklers to spray water on fire in its early stages to reduce or stop damage.
Put out cigarettes in an ashtray. Never throw them in the trash. Make sure they are completely out.
Keep all lighters and matches in locked or high cabinets away from children.
Use light bulbs with the correct wattage for the fixture.
Replace all frayed, cracked or broken electrical cords.
Check for independent testing lab safety labels (i.e., UL, FM) on all appliances and portable heaters.
Use outlets safely. Don't plug too many large appliances into one outlet, overload an extension cord, or plug more than one extension cord into an outlet.
Make sure there are two escape routes from every room, including basement bedrooms.
Store and use all cleaning products and aerosol cans away from heat. Don't burn the containers or throw in with trash that will be burned.
Do not use electrical appliances or tools when you or the cord is in or near water.
Tips For Safety In The Kitchen
Have the stovetop and oven checks annually to be sure that they are working properly.
Keep the stovetop and oven clean to avoid grease fires.
Remove towels, potholders, plastic bags, newspapers and other flammable materials around the stovetop.
Do not hang curtains or other flammable materials above the stove.
Replace or have a professional fix any appliance with frayed or loose cords or wires, or cords that get hot while the appliance is in use.
Do not use or store appliances and cords near water where they can get wet.
Hang paper towel racks, curtains and towels away from the toaster, roaster oven, and any other heat producing appliances.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stovetop.
Use only microwave-safe dishes in the microwave.
Wear tight-fitting sleeves or roll them up when cooking.
Unplug appliances when they are not in use.
Tips For Safety In The Living Room
Clean wood or coal stoves and fireplace chimneys before each heating season.
Burn only dry, seasoned wood in the fireplace or wood stove to reduce the build-up of creosote (which is flammable) in the chimney.
Always use a fire screen.
Don't wear loose or flowing clothes when tending fires.
Close the screen or heat-tempered glass door when the fireplace is in use to prevent sparks from igniting furniture, draperies or other items.
Avoid running cords or wires under rugs and carpets or near a heat source where they can overheat. Don't run them across doorways where they can become worn.
Stack newspapers, wood, matches and other items that might catch fire away from the fireplace, wood or coal stove.
Install an approved stove board under wood and coal stoves and place these stoves at least 3 feet away from any wall. Follow local building and fire codes.
Place large, clean, deep, non-tip ashtrays in the living room and other rooms where smokers are likely to be. Douse ashtrays with water before emptying them into a trash can to put out any embers.
Tips For Safety In The Bathroom
Run appliance cords away from the sink or tub where they can get wet.
Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters in the bathroom, kitchen, and other rooms with water or moisture. These shut off the current when there is a danger of shock.
Use hair dryers and curling irons away from items that might burn.
Disconnect after use. Don't fold or crimp cords when storing them.
Tips For Safety In The Bedroom
Install a smoke detector in the hallway near each bedroom. Sleep with bedroom doors closed.
Buy portable heaters with automatic shutoff safety features. Keep them clean and at least three feet away from draperies, furniture, clothes, bedding and wall.
Never smoke cigarettes in bed or any time you are sleepy.
Use a heating pad for no more than 30 minutes. Always unplug it when you are finished.
Unplug your electric blanket when it is not in use and store it flat. Never fold or roll it.
Tips For Safety In The Basement
Have your furnace checked before each heating season to be sure it is in proper working condition.
Change furnace filters frequently.
If you use the basement as a bedroom, make sure the windows are large enough to crawl through in case of fire.
Do not store trash or anything that could catch fire near the furnace.
Become familiar with your main electric panel.
Clean lint from the dryer screen before each use. Plug the dryer into a separate outlet and vent it to the outside. Be sure the vent does not get clogged. This is a favorite spot for bird nests.
Follow the manufacturers' recommended time for drying synthetic fabrics, rubber, plastics or foam.
Tips For Safety In The Garage Or Shop
Keep a fire extinguisher in this area and familiarize yourself with its use !
Use proper gauge extension cord with any power tool or high-wattage equipment.
Store gasoline in approved, tightly sealed containers and use it only as motor fuel.
Keep paints and other flammable liquids and chemicals in their original, labeled containers with tight fitting lids.
Use and store flammables (pesticides, fertilizers, paint, gasoline, etc.) away from any source of heat or flame. Never smoke near flammable liquids.
Dispose of oil soaked rags after use or store them in a tightly closed metal container. Never burn them or throw them in trash that will be burned.
Place unused charcoal in a metal container with a tight fitting lid in a cool, dry place. Damp charcoal can ignite itself !
Use cordless tools when working around water or on grounded components such as plumbing and heating systems.
General Safety Tips
While smoke alarms alert people to fires, families still need to develop and practice home fire escape plans so that they can get out quickly.
Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home (including the basement) and outside each sleeping area. If you sleep with the door closed, also install a smoke alarm in the room that you sleep in. In new homes, smoke alarms are required in all sleeping rooms!
Because smoke rises, alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings. Wall-mounted alarms should be positioned 4-12 inches from the ceiling; ceiling-mounted alarms should be positioned 4 inches away from the nearest wall. On vaulted ceilings, be sure to mount the alarm at the highest point of the ceiling.
Smoke alarms should not be installed near a window, door or forced-air register where drafts could interfere with their operation.
People with hearing impairments should install smoke alarms with louder alarm signals and strobe lights to properly alert them.
Be sure that the smoke alarm that you buy carries the label of an independent testing lab.
Alarms that are hard-wired to the home's electrical system should be installed by a qualified electrician - after all, your life could depend on this!
