Are you and your home as safe as they can be from fires?

Today is the last day of Fire Prevention Week. I almost didn’t write anything because it upsets me so much every time I learn about a death in a fire.

I’ve been writing about it for years. And, I’m not the only one. Still, deaths keep happening.

From 2012 to 2021, the 10-year trend in the fire death rate per million population increased 18 percent in the United States, according to the U.S. Fire Administration at FEMA. In 2021, the fire death rate was 13 deaths per million  – 14 percent higher than it was in 2020 when the fire death rate was 11.4 deaths per million. That’s 4,316 deaths in 2021.

The dead include old people, young people, kids, men, and women.

Older adults have a higher risk of dying in a fire. During 2015–2019, More than one-third of the fatalities were 65 or older, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Children under 15 accounted for 11 percent of the home fire fatalities.

I want to weep every time I read about a death in a fire. I don’t want to think about it and write about it again.

However, it’s not time to stick my head under the covers.

I asked my fellow safety writers in our Facebook group Safest Family on the Block what I should write about this time to get people’s attention. Should I write about creating a fire escape plan, like our leader Jason Brick recommends, and getting fire ladders if you have a second story in your home?

One member of the group said:

What about what and how to check whether all these fancy holiday decorations are faulty? Anything with a power cord has potential to cause a fire.

Or appropriate spaces to cook things like deep fried turkeys or other “insta-famous” novelties? Nothing like an exploding propane tank to harsh a holiday feast’s vibe. Or even pressure cooking for canning, etc.

How to prevent and/or handle a BBQ fire or a grease fire on a stove? Been seeing ads for some kind of fire retardant blanket you might could attract as a sponsor.

Another said I probably should do the standard list.

So, here’s a big list of what everyone should know about fire prevention from Ready.gov, the website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

A fire can become life-threatening in just two minutes. A residence can be engulfed in flames in five minutes.

Learn about fires

• Fire is fast. In less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for it to be engulfed in flames.
• Fire is hot. Heat is more threatening than flames. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.
• Fire is dark. Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.
• Fire is deadly. Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy.

Smoke Alarms

A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

• Replace batteries twice a year, unless you are using 10-year lithium batteries.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement.
• Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking – it can be a deadly mistake.
• Be aware audible alarms are available for visually impaired people and smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the hearing impaired.

Before a fire

If you are insured, contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on protecting your property, conducting inventory, and contacting fire damage restoration companies.

Create and practice a fire escape plan

Remember that every second counts in the event of a fire. Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. Practice your home fire escape plan twice each year. Some tips to consider when preparing this plan include:

• Find two ways to get out of each room in the event the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke.
• Make sure that windows aren’t stuck, screens can be taken out quickly, and security bars can be properly opened.
• Practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.
• Teach children not to hide from firefighters.
• Check all exits to be sure you can get through the doorways if you use a walker or wheelchair.

Fire safety tips

• Make digital copies of valuable documents and records such as birth certificates.
• Sleep with your bedroom door closed.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Contact your local fire department for assistance on proper use and maintenance.
• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your residence.

During a fire

• Drop down to the floor and crawl low, under any smoke to your exit. Heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.
• Feel the doorknob and door before opening a door. If either is hot, or if there’s smoke coming around the door, leave the door closed and use your second way out.
• Open a door slowly if you open it. Be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or fire is present.
• Leave the home and call 9-1-1 or the fire department if you can’t get to someone needing assistance. Tell the emergency operator where the person is located.
• Tell firefighters right away if pets are trapped inside your home.
• Close the door and cover vents and cracks around doors with cloth or tape to keep smoke out if you can’t get out. Call 9-1-1 or your fire department. Say where you are and signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight.
• Stop, drop, and roll if your clothes catch fire. Stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands. Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out. If you or someone else can’t stop the fire, drop and roll, smother the flames with a blanket or towel. Use cool water to treat the burn immediately for three to five minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth. Get medical help right away by calling 9-1-1 or the fire department.

After a fire

• Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross, if you need temporary housing, food, and medicines.
• Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter.
• Don’t attempt to reconnect utilities yourself. The fire department should make sure that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. 
• Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Don’t throw away any damaged goods until after you make the inventory of your items.
• Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and for verifying losses claimed on your income tax.
• Notify your mortgage company of the fire.

Prevent 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 don’t run cords under rugs or furniture.
• Use a three-prong plug only in a three-slot outlet if an appliance has a three-prong plug. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Immediately shut off, then professionally replace any light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.

Holiday safety

• Turn off holiday lights at night or when you leave the house.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from flammable materials or consider using flameless candles.
• Water your Christmas tree daily and don’t let it dry out. A dry tree is more flammable. 
• Make sure your tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents, or lights, and it’s not blocking an exit.
• Don’t overload extension cords and outlets.

Fireplaces and wood stoves

• Inspect and clean wood stove 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 or 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.

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.

More fire prevention tips

• Never use a kitchen stove or oven to heat your home.
• Keep combustible and flammable liquids away from heat sources.
• Don't use portable generators indoors and only refuel them outdoors and in well ventilated areas.

The Escape Plan: Test Your Fire Safety Skills

Try this virtual and augmented reality experience. In it, you’re racing against the clock to escape from an apartment fire. You’ll have to navigate through several rooms and make fast decisions to avoid danger.

So, that’s the big list. I think I’ll take my own advice and buy some new fire extinguishers.

Comments

[Laurie Stone]

I just ordered a fire blanket lately and its in my kitchen, where most fires start. That's always a great fear.

[Rita]

Yes, I've heard of those. I'll check them out.

[Carol Cassara]

All good advice, Rita.

[Rita]

It's a good list. It's prompting me to get some new fire extinguishers.