Fire Safety 101

Did you know that nationwide, every three hours a civilian dies from a house fire? It is very important to be well educated and prepared on how you can help to prevent fires from starting in the first place, and what to do if you encounter a fire.

Most Common Types of Fires:

Heating Fires – Heating fires are the second leading cause of house fires in America. Heating fires can be caused by a number of appliances; from central heating, wood or coal heaters and portable heaters. It is very important to ensure that you properly clean and filter all of your heating devices according to the manuals instructions. With portable heaters, make sure that they stand clear of any objects and that they have enough room for ventilation. If possible, try to only purchase models that offer safety features such as automatic shut off.

Smoking Fires – Most smoking fires are a result of a cigarette being abandoned or forgotten about. If you are going to smoke, it is important to be cautious and aware of your surroundings. Some ways to help prevent smoking fires is to never smoke in bed, don’t smoke if you are tired, and don’t smoke around furniture. Smoking fires can easily be prevented.

Electric Fires – Electric fires are mainly caused due to overloaded circuits or faulty wiring. In order to help prevent electrical fires from starting in the first place, be sure to check your electrical appliances and wiring often. Keep electrical appliances as far away from wet areas as possible; especially the bathroom.

Cooking Fires – Cooking fires can be caused by a number of situations such as forgetting something on the stove, or faulty kitchen equipment. It is important to stay focused when you are cooking so that you don’t forget about something you put in the oven. An easy way to help you in doing this is to set a kitchen timer. If a grease fire emerges, do not throw water on it because the water will splatter the flames. Instead, try to cover the fire so put out the flames.

Helpful Tips:

Invest in a smoke detector – Make sure that your smoke detector is on at all times. Be sure to routinely check your smoke detector to make sure that it is working properly.

Create a Fire Escape Plan – Plan out and practice a fire escape plan with your family and loved ones. Be sure to have an alternative plan.

Make exiting a priority – The second you realize there is a fire, try to escape right away. Don’t waste your time trying to gather your belongings. Make escaping your focus, to help protect your safety.

Feel the Door – When exiting the room you are in, feel the door with the back of your hand as high up as you can reach as a sign if there is a fire on the other side. If it is hot, seek an alternative route. If it is cold, open it a crack to check if the fire is on the other side.

Call 911 – Try to call 911 as soon as you are safe. Ask a neighbor if you can use their phone to call local authorities.

While we all hope to never encounter a dangerous fire situation, it is important to be well aware of what can cause fires, how to help prevent them from starting, and what to do in the event of a fire.