Fire Prevention and Safety

Plan to Safely Escape

Plan with your family how to get out of the house during a fire emergency.

  • Determine at least two escape routes for each room in the house.
  • Choose a meeting place a safe distance outside the house.
  • Practice your escape plan, including meeting at a safe place outside.
  • Advise any guests, especially those staying over-night, of the escape plan and meeting place.

Smoke Detectors Save Lives

Modern smoke detectors alert household occupants of smoke conditions in the home. This early detection promotes safe escape and can help to reduce damage caused by fire.

  • Smoke detectors should be replaced when they stop functioning correctly, or when they are ten years old. Whichever comes first.
  • Replace smoke detector batteries twice a year. When changing clocks for daylight savings is an easy time to remember. Do not wait until the battery low chirp starts. When the battery gets this low, it might not have enough power reserves to sound long enough during an emergency.
  • Permanent battery (10-year) smoke detectors have shorter battery life if frequently triggered. Plan to replace them sooner than advertised.
  • Smoke detectors should be installed, at minimum, in each bedroom and a central location of each floor of the house.
  • Interconnected smoke detectors will sound all detectors, even if only one detector senses smoke. This helps ensure persons at other locations in the house hear the alarm.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that kills hundreds of people each year. Install at least one carbon monoxide detector per floor of the house, and at each separate sleeping area. Even if your appliances are electric.

Grilling Safety

Follow these simple tips for safe grilling:

  • Propane, charcoal, and wood fired barbecue grills should only be used outdoors and placed at least three feet from buildings, overhangs, deck railings, vegetation and any other combustible products.
  • Keep children and pets a safe distance from the grill area.
  • Clean the grill, removing grease and fat buildup from the cooking grates and trays below.
  • Never leave the grill unattended.
  • Only use starter fluid inteaded for the unlit material to be ignited. Never add the fluid to already burning materials.

Clear Snow, Vegetation, and Debris from Fire Hydrants

Fire hydrants are essential to rapid and effective firefighting operations. Fire hydrants that are buried in snow, vegetation or other debris are difficult to locate and take time for firefighters to clear. Be sure that hydrants have at least three feet clearance all around.

Fire Engines are about 35 feet long. Do not park in front of fire hydrants, including dry hydrants adjacent to streams and lakes.

Holiday Fire Safety

Protect your home and family during the holiday seasons.

  • Keep the Christmas Tree and other holiday decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like radiators, candles, and fireplaces.
  • Be sure to keep live trees and plants watered. Once they dry, they can burn fast and hot.
  • Use battery-operated (flameless) candles instead of real candles. There are many realistic models on the market.
  • Replace worn out and broken light strands and cords. Ensure bulbs are snug, and replace any failed or borken bulbs.
  • Turn off the lights and decorations when you leave the house or go to bed.