Fire Safety

Fire is a fundamental force in nature.  Without fire, life as we know it today would not exist.  Friendly fires heat our homes, cook our food, and help to generate our energy.  Like any force of nature, however, fire also carries with it the potential for great destruction.  Fire poses a potential threat to our lives, property, and resources. Civilian fire deaths in the United States have declined fairly steadily over the past decade from a high of over 7,700 per year in 1978 to an average of about 6,000 per year since 1982.  It is important to have a plan.

What Should You Do

• Plan two escape routes out of each room.

• Practice fire drills at least twice a year.

• Teach family members to stay low to the ground when escaping from a fire.

• Teach family members never to open doors that are hot.  In a fire, feel the bottom of the door with the palm of your hand.  If it is hot, do not open the door.  Find another way out.

• Install smoke detectors on every level of your home.  Clean and test them at least once a month.  Change batteries at least once a year.

• Keep a whistle in each bedroom to awaken household in case of fire.

• Check electrical outlets.  Do not overload outlets.

• Purchase and learn how to use a fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type).

• Have a collapsible ladder on each upper floor of your house.

• Consider installing home sprinklers.