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Information from the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program
Seasonal CRD Preparedness Tips October: Home Fire Preparedness
As cooler weather sets in, it’s important to ensure your home is prepared for potential fire hazards. October is the perfect time to review fire safety measures to keep your family safe. From heating appliances to fire escape plans, this guide will help you stay prepared.
Tip #1: Heating Appliance Safety
With temperatures dropping, you’ll likely begin using space heaters, fireplaces, and other heating appliances:
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment (like a furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable heater)
- All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous
- All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous
- Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from any rainfall
- Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from any rainfall
- Never leave a space heater unattended, and always turn it off before going to bed or leaving the room
- Many lightning deaths occur before rain starts or after it ends
- Many lightning deaths occur before rain starts or after it ends
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional
Tip #2: Smoke Alarms and Fire Extinguishers
Smoke alarms can save lives by alerting you to a fire in its early stages:
- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going outside
- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going outside
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas
- Test smoke alarms every month, and replace batteries at least once a year
- When lightning strikes, go indoors. Staying inside is the safest option
- When lightning strikes, go indoors. Staying inside is the safest option
- Keep a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible location in your kitchen, and ensure family members know how to use it
- If caught outdoors, avoid open fields, hilltops, isolated trees, and tall objects. Spread out if in a group
- If caught outdoors, avoid open fields, hilltops, isolated trees, and tall objects. Spread out if in a group
Tip #3: Practice Your Fire Escape Plan
In the event of a fire, it’s critical to have an escape plan in place that all family members are familiar with:
- Make sure your plan includes at least two exits from every room in your home
- Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths, and faucets
- Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths, and faucets
- Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches
- Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches
- Conduct fire drills with your family to ensure everyone knows how to get out safely, and designate a meeting spot outside the home
- Do not lie on concrete floors
- Do not lie on concrete floors
- Do not lean against concrete walls
- Do not lean against concrete walls
- Teach children how to escape a fire on their own in case adults can't help them
Tip #4: Cooking Safety
Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries:
- Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the stove. Use a timer as a reminder to check food
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning
- https://www.weather.gov/media/safety/Lightning- Brochure18.pdf
- https://www.weather.gov/media/safety/Lightning- Brochure18.pdf
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-outdoors
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-outdoors
- Keep flammable items, such as towels and wooden utensils, away from the stove. avoid wearing loose clothing while cooking
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-cars
- https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-cars
- http://lightningsafetycouncil.org/
- http://lightningsafetycouncil.org/
- Never use water to extinguish an oil fire. Water can cause the fire to spread. Instead, smother the flames with a metal lid or use a fire extinguisher rated for grease fires
Source:
- https://www.nfpa.org/
- https://www.ready.gov/home-fires
For more information contact:
Cameron Sellers
Community Resource Development - Disaster Educator cameron.sellers@kysu.edu