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Fire
Extinguishers
Keep fire extinguishers handy. Multi-purpose dry chemical
extinguishers work well on wood, grease, other flammable liquid and
electrical fires. make sure there is at least one extinguisher on
each floor of your house, particularly in or near the kitchen, garage,
laundry room and workshop.
Have every adult in the household read the extinguisher instruction
manual so they know how to use it properly.
Periodically inspect your extinguishers to determine if they need to be
recharged or replaced.
Electrical Check List
Check all household items to prevent shock or fire.
Electrical Cords
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Replace frayed or cracked cords
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Remove cords from under carpeting or furniture
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Avoid overloading extension cords
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Read the label on (UL) or (FM) approved cords for proper electrical
rating
Electrical Appliances
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Replace or repair appliances that do not operate properly
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Plug in portable appliances only when in use
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Do not cut the third prong (ground) off you appliance plug.
The third prong is there to prevent electric shock
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When you shop for appliances or tools, look for recognizable
underwriters laboratories (UL) label or Factory Mutual (FM) labels.
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Have a professional electrician check for faulty wiring, especially
if your moving into an older home. Be certain your wiring is
professional and can handle today's sophisticated electrical needs.
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Never us an electrical appliance for anything other than its
intended use. Hair dryers aren't meant to dry clothing, and
ovens aren't intended to heat your home.
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Unplug all counter-top appliances when not in use, including
toasters, space-heaters, coffee makers and irons. When plugged
into an outlet, all appliances still have dangerous electrical voltages
inside of them-even when they're turned off.
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Keep appliances and their cords away from water. If an
appliance falls into the water, don't retrieve it until you've
unplugged the appliance.
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An appliance that has fallen into water should not be used again
until it has been properly inspected by a qualified technician.
Water damaged products can give you a lethal electric shock.
Light Bulbs
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Unnecessary high wattage may lead to fire through overheating.
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Replace bulbs with a bulb of the correct type and wattage.
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If you are not sure, only use a 60 watt bulb
Halogen Floor Lamps
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Never place materials (such as clothing and towels) on top of a
halogen lamp.
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Halogen bulbs use less energy than incandescent bulbs, but they burn
much hotter.
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Never place a halogen lamps in children's bedrooms or playrooms.
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Don't use a bulb higher than 300 watts in your halogen lamp.
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Avoid leaving high-wattage (more that 100-watts) halogen lamps on
when you leave the room or when you are not at home.
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Never touch a halogen bulb with bare fingers. Even a bulb that
has been turned off for several hours can burn you, and your skin oils
will damage the bulb.
Fireplaces
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Clean your fireplace regularly and have the chimney cleaned and
inspected every year.
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use a screen around the fireplace to protect your home from popping
embers.
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Extinguish the fire before you go to sleep.
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Place embers in a closed metal container on a fire-proof
surface.
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Never start a fire or try to revive one with gasoline or other
flammable liquids.
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Trim tree branches back at least 10 feet from your chimney.
Space Heaters
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Never add fuel to a portable heater that is turned on or still hot;
the fuel could explode into flames.
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Never run the heater's cord under a carpet, rug or furniture.
This could cause the cord to over heat and start a fire.
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Keep flammable materials - including bedding, clothing, draperies,
rugs and furniture - at least 3 feet away from the heater, even if
your space heater has safety features such as cut-off switches or
heating element guards.
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Don't use space heater in rooms where children are unsupervised, and
might poke fingers or other objects through the heater protective
guards. Even the slightest contact with a heating coil or
element can cause a severe shock, burn or fire.
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Never leave space heaters on while your sleeping.
Kerosene Heaters
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Place the heater out of high-traffic areas such as
doorways and hallways.
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Store kerosene outdoors, out of reach of children in
tightly sealed containers labeled "kerosene".
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If flames appear outside the heater cabinet, call
the fire department immediately. Do Not attempt to move the
heater.
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Keep kerosene heaters in well-ventilated rooms.
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Turn off the heaters when you go to sleep.
Never leave it operating unattended.
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Place the heater at least 3 feet from furniture,
curtains, clothing and other flammable objects.
Wood or Coal Burning Stoves
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Check your stove pipes and chimney regularly for
creosote build-up. Shiny creosote deposits look like black
paint, and are in indication that your wood stove is not working
properly.
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Burn seasoned wood to minimize creosote build-up.
Wood stored in the spring will be seasoned and ready to burn in the
fall, although a longer storage time is preferable.
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Don't overload the stove with wood. This can
cause the wood to smolder, and produces excessive creosote build-up.
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Keep combustibles away from the stove.
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Keep a dry chemical fire extinguisher on hand in the
event of a chimney fire. Close the damper and air inlet
immediately, then call the fire department.
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Don't connect a wood stove to a fireplace chimney
unless th4e chimney has been properly sealed around the stove-pipe.
Don't connect more than one stove to a chimney.
Furnace Maintenance
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Check heating equipment regularly for rusted parts
and insecure mountings.
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Keep furnace clear of all combustible materials.
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Install a ceiling of fire-resistive materials such
as fire drywall or fire-resistant acoustic tile, especially if
heating equipment is in a basement that is often in use.
Dryer Vents
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Check your dryer vent and vent hose regularly for
lint accumulation. Heat build-up could spark a fire in the
hose or your dryer.
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Dryer vents should be made of rigid metal.
Flexible plastic vents can be damaged by high heat, age and contact
with other objects, while accordion vents (plastic or metal) can
crimp and are more likely to trap lint.
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The vent should be run as short a distance as
possible, never more than 25 feet in a straight line.
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All vents should discharge directly to the home's
exterior, never to a crawl space, attic, garage or chimney.
Make sure you have a back draft damper at the termination point.
Smoking and Matches
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Smoking is still the leading cause of deadly home
fires. NEVER smoke in bed or when your are drowsy!
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Never empty ashtrays into the trash can shortly
after smoking. Wait several hours for the smoldering embers to
completely extinguish themselves.
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Thoroughly check both sides of the couch and chair
cushions for dropped ashes.
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If a cushion or couch has been burned or scorched,
put it outside away from the house overnight and call the fire
department.
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Never smoke or light matches near flammable
materials.
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Teach children the danger the playing with matches.
Keep matches away from children's reach.
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