HOME FIRE

What do I do if there is a fire in my home?

To protect yourself, it's important to understand the basic characteristics of fire. Fire spreads quickly; there is no time to grab valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes a house can be engulfed in flames.

A fire's heat and smoke are even more dangerous than the flames - inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make your disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened by the fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep.

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What are some fire safety tips that will help me stay safe?

1. Install smoke detectors. Working smoke detectors double your chances of surviving a fire.
   • Place smoke detectors on every level of your house: outside bedrooms on the ceiling or high on the wall, at the top of open stairways or at the bottom of enclosed stairs and near (but not in) the kitchen.
   • Clean smoke detectors once a month and replace batteries at least once a year.
2. With your family, plan two (2) escape routes for each room in the house. Practice escaping from each room.
   • Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut. Make sure security gratings on windows have a fire safety opening feature so that they can be easily opened from the inside.
   • Teach family members to stay low to the floor (where the air is safer in a fire) when escaping from a fire.
   • Pick a place outside your home for the family to meet after escaping from a fire.
3. Know the locations of the gas valve and electric fuse or circuit breaker box and how to turn them off in an emergency. If you shut off your main gas line for any reason, allow only a gas company representative to turn it on again.
4. Valuable safety hints to prevent fires in your home:
   • Before going to bed or leaving home, make sure all heaters and stoves are turned off
   • Careless smoking causes many fires. If you smoke, be careful and never smoke in bed.
   • Don't store combustible or flammable items where they can be tampered with or accessible to children
   • Pay attention when using heating devices of any kind. During winter, make sure space heaters are turned off and away from walls and other flammable areas. Double check your fireplace to ensure screens are in place.
   • Keep a fire extinguisher available (especially in the kitchen/cooking areas).
5. Teach your children how to report a fire and when to use 911.

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(Information provided by FEMA)