How to Fireproof Your Home

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By Johncan
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (18 Ratings)

Some simple tips to keep you and your family safe, and prevent fires in your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Smoke detectors
common sense
2-3 ABC rated fire extinguishers

Step 1

While this step will not prevent a fire, the most important life saving feature in your home is a good smoke detector. Most of the fires we go to where the people escape from their homes had WORKING smoke detectors. Just having them up there will not save you, change the batteries every six months. Most newer homes have a hard wired detector but they do not last forever and tend to get painted over. Also if their is a power failure they do not work. If your in the market for a new detector get a dual sensor ionization/photoelectric, one detects heat the other smoke.
Step 2

Cooking is usually the number 1 cause of fires in homes. Unattended food left burning on the stove or in the oven can easily start a much bigger fire. Grease that is heated to high or left unattended can also be a major problem, never pour water on a grease fire it will just splatter and spread the flames. Keep your cooking area clear of combustibles and watch where you drop those oven mitts. For those of you who like to deep fry a turkey during the holidays please do it outside!
Step 3

Smoking is another major cause of home fires, never smoke in bed its to easy for a wayward ash to fall off or for you to fall asleep while smoking. Always keep lighters and matches away from children, there probably isn't a statistic on it but I bet 99% of little boys are obsessed with fire and the other kid is lying!
Step 4

Candles are another scary device, my wife loves to light them and then fall asleep. If your going to use them keep them away from curtains or anything else that is flammable. Keep them up where children or pets can't knock them over, if you've ever chased a dog with a flaming tail you know what I'm talking about. And please put them out before you go to sleep.
Step 5

If there is one appliance you really need to keep an eye out for its your clothes dryer, I know its not the most fun thing in the world but keep the lint trap clean, and clean out behind and underneath the dryer regularly. A lot of fires we go to are cause by lack of maintenance on a dryer and it tend to go up quick.
Step 6

Gas furnaces and hot water tanks make horrible storage areas, the appliances have an open flame. Do not stack boxes, clothes, paints or any type of chemical near them. Try to keep at LEAST a 6 ft radius clear around them.
Step 7

Space heaters are another killer, if you must use them keep them away from anything flammable, for some reason people think that putting them in a corner facing the wall will heat the room faster. It doesn't until the whole house is on fire.
Step 8

If you have a wood burning fire place, have a chimney sweep come out at least once a year to check your operation out. Creosote build up, animals nesting and about 100 other thing could go wrong. Buy a good screen to prevent embers from flying out. If you get a chance shake hands with the chimney sweep its supposed to bring good luck.

Comments

bailey4 said

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on 9/10/2009 Great specific tips. 5*

scarletdreamer said

on 8/23/2009 This is an amazing article! Fire is so dangerous and many people are unaware of just how easily it can spread (we and a cat knock over a candle once and nearly lost two rooms)