basic home fire prevention

Fire safety in the bedroom   Fire safety in the kitchen   Fire safety in the living room 

 

Fire safety in the garage and basement                              Fire safety for the holidays

 For info on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms click here

 

general precautions

  1. Never leave children alone in the house.

  2. Make sure ashtrays are stable and designed to hold a burning cigarette. Make sure all cigarettes are out before emptying an ashtray.

  3. DO NOT smoke when you are sleepy.

  4. Check for faulty electrical wires. Electrical fires may smolder for days behind walls before erupting into a fire.

  5. Check for overloaded extension cords with warn or frayed plug connections.

  6. DO NOT store gasoline or other flammable liquids in your house.

  7. Check all electrical equipment (stereo, television, etc.) to be sure they are functioning properly. All of these require ventilation or else they could overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.

  8. Have your furnace examined at the beginning of each heating season for potential hazards such as clogged outlets, leaks or a weak pilot.

  9. Your fireplace should have a screen to contain flying sparks or embers. A wood stove should also have a base made of non-combustible material. Check with a stove dealer or your local fire dept. for directions regarding proper base construction.

  10. Clean your chimney at least once a year. If it used frequently, clean it twice a year. Suit built up in a chimney will cause a fire capable of either burning through cracks in the chimney or raining sparks on the roof.

For more info on fire safety in specific areas of your home just click on the images above.

8 2000-2002,Sarnia Professional Firefighters Assoc., All rights reserved