Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries. With this article we’ll give tips to practice precaution and prevention for home fire safety.
Watch Your Cooking!
As previously mentioned, cooking equipment remains the leading cause of home structure fires and their resulting injuries. It is imperative that you remain in the kitchen while food is frying, broiling, or grilling. If you must leave, please turn off the stove. If you are baking, simmering, or roasting food, be sure to check on it regularly and remain in the home while it is cooking, using a timer. For resident who store a gas cylinder in your kitchen, make sure it is in the right position and location. The gas cylinder should not be exposed to the sunlight or other heat sources. It must be stored away from flammable objects and electrical socket.
Install Smoke Alarms
Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, especially inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Have interconnection between all smoke alarms in the home, so that when one sounds, they all sound. Fire indicator panels are connected to smoke/heat detection signals and are the controlling component of a fire alarm system.
Test Smoke Alarms
Make sure that smoke alarms are tested at least once a month and have conventional batteries replaced once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to indicate a low battery. Any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old should be replaced.
If you have the smokers in your house, request that smokers smoke outside. It is the best way to prevent home fire caused by cigarette butts. Also, do provide a proper ashtray or cigarette butt receptacles.
Keep Matches and Lighters Out Of Reach Of Children
Keep matches and lighters in high or hard to reach places such as a cabinet with a child lock.
Practice Caution When Using Candles
Always have candles kept at a safe distance (about one foot) from anything that can ignite and burn. Make sure to put out candles before leaving a room or going to sleep.
Provide Ample Space For Space Heaters
Just like the precautions to be taken with candles, keep space heaters at a safe distance (of at least three feet) from anything that can burn. Shut off heaters when leaving the room or going to sleep.
Inspect Electrical Cords
Any electrical cords that are cracked, damaged, have broken plugs, or loose connections should be replaced as soon as possible.
Have A Home Fire Escape Plan
Gather everyone in the household and create a home fire escape plan. Practice the plan at least twice a year and make sure everyone understands it.
Install residential sprinklers if you are building or remodeling your home. Sprinklers can help contain or even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take for local firefighters to arrive.
In addition to aforementioned precautions there is some valuable equipment for fire safety. These include fire doors, fire blankets, and fire hose reels, all potentially useful in certain cases.