House Fire Safety Tips

Understanding fire risk

To effectively prevent house fires, it's crucial to have an understanding of the common causes and associated risks. By recognizing these fire hazards, you can take proactive steps to mitigate risk and keep your home and loved ones safe. The following are often associated with house fires:

• Cooking: Cooking fires often happen when individuals leave the stove or oven unattended or get distracted while preparing a meal. Grease fires in particular are extremely dangerous; they can escalate rapidly, leading to significant damage.
• Heating: As temperatures drop, the use of heating sources like space heaters, furnaces and fireplaces increases. However, if these aren’t properly maintained or used with caution, they can pose a fire risk.
• Electrical: Electrical fires can result from various issues, including faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, damaged appliances or the misuse of electrical equipment.
• Smoking: Smoking indoors significantly increases the risk of fires. Smoking-related fires occur when cigarettes, cigars or pipes aren’t extinguished properly. Falling asleep with a lit cigarette, especially on a couch or in bed, can lead to disastrous consequences.
• Candles: Candles can add a cozy and soothing ambiance to your living space, but they can also be a source of fire if not handled with care. The risk is particularly high when candles are left unattended or placed near flammable materials.

» MORE: How many house fires occur each year?

House fire prevention

Safeguarding your home and loved ones from the destructive force of fires is paramount, and the most effective approach to achieve this is through prevention.

Kitchen safety

Try to stay in the kitchen while cooking, especially when using the stovetop. Keep flammable materials like paper, towels and curtains away from stoves or burners, and make sure not to obstruct vents on microwaves and toasters. Always unplug appliances or turn off heat sources when they're not in use.

Set a timer to remind yourself when food is ready, and turn pot handles away from the stove and other burners. Avoid using the self-cleaning feature on ovens with food buildup, and follow manufacturer instructions when lighting pilot lights. Never put metal, including aluminum foil, in a microwave, and be cautious not to overfill pans with oil or grease.

Also, ensure that children and pets are at a safe distance from the stove and other cooking appliances. In the event of a grease fire, never use water; instead, use a metal lid or a fire extinguisher designed for grease fires and turn off the heat source if possible.

Why can’t you use water on a grease fire?

When you add water to hot oil, the water sinks to the bottom and evaporates rapidly. As it evaporates, it turns into steam. This rapid conversion of water to steam causes the hot oil to splatter and spread the fire even further. The splattering of hot oil and steam can also lead to severe burns to anyone nearby — especially the person trying to put out the fire.

Heater safety

An Oklahoma fire captain we spoke with said their fire crew has seen some alarming practices around heating elements in local homes. “We see explosive materials — paint materials, thinner, gasoline, propane — by the water heater, and that’s not good,” the captain said. Make sure to keep materials away from hot surfaces, especially if they’re combustible.

After using heat-producing appliances like curling irons, toasters or electric kettles, always remember to unplug them. If you use a portable space heater, opt for a model that automatically shuts off if it tips over, and place it on a stable, level surface to prevent tipping. Avoid plugging in multiple heat-producing appliances in the same outlet, and keep these appliances at least 3 feet away from flammable materials.

Before using your fireplace each year, have it inspected and cleaned by a professional. Use a metal or glass screen to prevent embers from escaping, and keep children and pets away from heating appliances to prevent accidents or burns.

Electrical safety

Regularly inspect electrical cords and plugs for signs of overloading or wear and tear. Consider using surge protectors, especially in home offices, and avoid running extension cords, particularly under rugs.

When possible, ensure that each appliance has its own outlet. Use lightbulbs with wattage equal to or lower than the manufacturer's recommendations, and never cut off the ground wire (third prong) on a power cord. If a breaker trips, it's advisable to have an electrician inspect it before resetting it.

Smoking safety

Whenever possible, restrict smoking to outdoor areas and provide designated outdoor receptacles with sand or water for safely extinguishing cigarette butts.

Avoid smoking in areas where you might doze off, such as on a couch or in bed. If you must smoke outdoors, use noncombustible ashtrays made of metal or glass — avoid using plastic or wooden containers. Be especially cautious about smoking while tired, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or while taking medications that make you drowsy.

Candle safety

To prevent candle-related fires, always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to sleep. Place candles in sturdy holders on a flat, heat-resistant surface, and maintain a safe distance between candles and flammable objects like curtains, decorations, paper and furniture.

Keep candle wicks trimmed to about one-fourth of an inch to prevent high flames that could ignite nearby materials. If you have an open-flame candle, use a glass or metal screen to contain the flame and prevent embers from escaping. Ensure that candles are placed out of reach of children and pets.

Seasonal safety

During special occasions, be cautious of seasonal fire hazards. When setting off fireworks, do so away from trees or buildings, and keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby. When decorating, avoid plugging more than three strings of lights into each other. If you have a real Christmas tree, water it daily to prevent the needles from getting too dry. Keep candles, such as menorahs and kinaras, away from flammable surfaces during festive celebrations.

House fire preparation

In the blink of an eye, a house fire can engulf your home. Taking proactive steps can ensure your and your family's safety:

• Ensure proper placement of alarms: Start by installing working smoke alarms on each floor of your home. Place smoke alarms in bedrooms and hallways outside sleeping areas for comprehensive coverage. Consider using hard-wired smoke alarms with a battery backup. Interconnect your alarms to ensure that if one sounds, they all do, maximizing your safety.
• Prevent nuisance alarms: Never disable your alarms; they’re crucial to your safety. Use the "hush" button when nuisance alarms occur to silence them temporarily. Regularly clean cobwebs and dust around the sensors to prevent false alarms, ensuring reliable functionality.
• Test alarms and replace batteries as needed: Test your smoke alarms every month to confirm they’re in working order. Replace the batteries promptly if they’re not functioning correctly. It's important to upgrade your smoke alarm every 10 years to maintain optimal performance.
• Check your carbon monoxide detectors: Don't overlook the importance of carbon monoxide detectors. These devices alert you to potentially lethal gas leaks from appliances like stoves, water heaters, fireplaces and furnaces. To ensure your safety, replace carbon monoxide detectors every five to seven years — they have a limited life span.

» MAKE SURE YOU’RE COVERED: Best homeowners insurance companies

How to create a fire escape plan

You’ll also want a solid fire escape plan for the whole family. Establish the safest ways to exit your home during a fire, taking into account the needs of pets and family members with special needs. Consider the following when developing your plan.

Does home warranty or home insurance cover house fires?

While your home insurance is likely to cover fire damage, home warranty coverage is for normal wear and tear of your home’s system and appliances.

» LEARN MORE: Home warranties vs. home insurance

Fire safety equipment

It’s also important to have some safety basics on hand in the event of a fire:

• Fire extinguisher: Keep a small fire extinguisher in your kitchen for quick access. Learn the PASS technique (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) for effective use.
• Fire sprinklers: Consider installing fire sprinkler systems that activate automatically upon detecting heat.
• Fireproof safe: Use fireproof safes to store flammable or explosive materials and protect vital documents like passports and marriage licenses from fire damage.
• Escape ladder: For rooms not on the first floor, consider having an escape ladder, and ensure that you and your family practice using it as part of your fire escape plan.
• Informative signage: Install signs with essential information for emergency responders. Include a plaque indicating the number of pets in your home, for instance, or identify windows leading to children's rooms.

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