Check that your home contains GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) or AFCI’s (Arc fault circuit interrupters), which prevent electrical shock and fire by shutting off faulty circuits. Be careful about do-it-yourself electrical projects. Studies have shown that many home fires are caused by improper installation of electrical devices. Get appliances that spark, smell unusual, or overheat fixed.
The kitchen is the most dangerous room for fires. Cooking is the major cause for fires. The fires mainly occur in the evening between 5 and 7 pm. Faulty or damaged electrical wires can start dangerous fires. Incorrect use of portable heaters or appliances pose a fire threat, especially during winter mornings and evenings. Unsupervised children playing with matches and lights can hurt themselves and others. Discarded smoking material igniting fires at home. Fires can occur when candles and incense burners are left unattended.
Carefully read the directions for its use. Never place a space heater where a child or pet could accidentally knock it over. Never place a space heater too close to a bed, especially a child’s bed. Keep newspapers, magazines, and fabrics from curtains, clothes, or bedding away from space heaters, radiators, and fireplaces. Heaters should be at least 3 feet from anything flammable.
Always supervise kids while cooking and practice safe cooking habits such as turning all pot handles in so they can’t be accidentally knocked over and not wearing loose-fitting clothing that could catch fire around the stove.
All lights and lighted window ornaments should be inspected every year to make sure that cords are not worn or frayed, and all candles should be used with care. The number of fires started by candles nearly doubles during the month of December.
If your home doesn’t have smoke alarms, now is the time to install them on every level of your home and in each bedroom. If possible, choose one with a 10-year lithium battery. If your smoke alarm uses regular batteries, remember to replace them every year (hint: change your batteries when you change your clock back from Daylight Saving Time in the fall). Test your smoke alarms monthly, and be sure your kids are familiar with the sound of the alarm. Because smoke rises, smoke detectors should always be placed on ceilings or high on walls. If a smoke detector near the kitchen goes off while you’re cooking, do not take the battery out of it—you may forget to replace it. Open the doors and windows instead. Or you might consider installing a rate-of-rise heat detector for places like the kitchen, where smoke or steam from cooking are likely to cause false alarms. These alarms can sense when the temperature reaches a set critical point or when it rises by more than a certain number of degrees a minute. If you’re having a new home built or remodeling an older home, you may want to consider adding a home sprinkler system. These are already found in many apartment buildings and dormitories. Carbon monoxide alarms also can be lifesaving.
Pull the pin. Release the lock with the nozzle pointing away from you. Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire. Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly. Sweep the nozzle from side to side.
Smoke alarm manufacturers recommend replacing smoke alarms every ten years. If your house has more than one-storey place one on each level and at the bottom of each stair well. Avoid placing a smoke alarm near air-conditioning or heating. The air flow coming out of the unit may blow the smoke away and fail to alert you.
Test the alarm weekly. Clean the smoke alarm and ceiling around it with a vacuum cleaner each month. Change the battery at least once a year with the battery specified by the alarm manufacturer.
When there is smoke, crawl low and get under the smoke. Alert others as you go. When there is smoke crawl low to get under the smoke. Test each door with the back of your hand. Close the door as you go through it to prevent fire and smoke from spreading. Never go back inside the house, once out you stay out. Meet at the assembly area such as the letterbox. Make sure your family know how to call the fire service.
Class A: Wood, paper, plastics, etc. Class B: Flammable liquids. Class C: Flammable gasses. Class D: Metal fires. Class E: Energized electrical equipment. Class F: Cooking oils and fats.
Water (Colored red): Dangerous if used on flammable liquid, energized electrical equipment and cooking oil or fat fires. Wet Chemical (Colored oatmeal or oatmeal label): Dangerous if used on energized electrical equipment. Foam (Colored blue or blue label): Dangerous if used on energized electrical equipment. ABE or BE Powder (White label): Specific types of powders available for metal fires. Carbon dioxide (Black label): Generally not suitable for outdoor use. Suitable only for small fires. Vaporizing liquid (Colored yellow or yellow label): Check the characteristics of the specific agent.
Rechargeable fire extinguisher: Designed for households in various sizes and different extinguisher mediums. Non-rechargeable fire extinguisher: These contain a powder extinguishant. Aerosol fire extinguisher: These are non-rechargeable and cover a wide range of fire classes. Check the manufactures recommendation for specific use.
When using a powder extinguisher on burning cooking oil or fat it is recommend you stand two meters away from the fire and aim over the pan. Do not aim the extinguishant directly into the pan that contains the oil or fat because it might spread the fire around the kitchen.
