Prevent Home Fires

Website: FEMA

Material Excerpted From: Disasters & Emergencies – Home Fires

Home fires can be preventable. The following are simple steps that each of us can take to prevent a tragedy.

Cooking

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. Turn off the stove if you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time.

• Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.

• Position barbecue grills at least 10 feet away from siding and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

• Keep a fire extinguisher available.

Electrical and Appliance Safety

• Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.

• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.

• Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.

Keeping Children Safe

• Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.

• Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach and sight, preferably in a locked cabinet.

• Never leave children unattended near operating stoves or burning candles, even for a short time.

Fireplaces and Woodstoves

• Inspect and clean woodstove pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions.

• Use a fireplace screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks.

• Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed.

Portable Space Heaters

• Keep combustible objects at least three feet away from portable heating devices.

• Only buy heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

• Check to make sure the portable heater has a thermostat control mechanism and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over.

• Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene in kerosene heaters. Never overfill it. Use the heater in a well-ventilated room away from curtains and other flammable items.

More Fire Prevention Tips

• Never use a stove range or oven to heat your home.

• Keep combustible and flammable liquids away from heat sources.

• Portable generators should NEVER be used indoors and should only be refueled outdoors and in well-ventilated areas.

Your safety is important, call us today for a policy review at 1-800-568-SAVE (7283) or email us at: service@hometowninsurance.com.

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