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Fire Prevention

Of course, the best way to practice fire safety is to make sure a fire doesn't break out in the first place. That means you should always be aware of potential hazards in your home. Start by keeping these tips in mind.

Check all electrical appliances, cords, and outlets

• Are your electrical appliances in good condition, without loose or frayed cords or plugs?
• Are your outlets overloaded with plugs from the TV, computer, printer, video game system, and stereo?
• Are you overusing an extension cord?
• Do the light fixtures in your home contain bulbs that are the correct wattage?
• Does your home contain GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters) and/or AFCIs (arc-fault circuit interrupters), which prevent electrical shock and fire by shutting off faulty circuits?

Look around your house for potential problems. And unless you're a trained electrician, be careful about do-it-yourself electrical projects. Studies have shown that many home fires are caused by improper installation of electrical devices.

Other tips:

• Replace or professionally repair any appliances that spark, smell unusual, or overheat.
• Don't run electrical wires under rugs.
• Make sure lamps and night-lights are not touching bedspreads, drapes, or other fabrics.
• Use caution when using electric blankets.
• Don't let kids use kitchen appliances by themselves and supervise any art or science projects that involve electrical devices.
• Cover any outlets that are not in use with plastic safety covers if you have toddlers or young children in your home.

Be especially vigilant about portable heaters

The number of residential fires always goes up during colder months, peaking between December and February. Portable space heaters substantially contribute to this increase. Before plugging in your space heater, make sure you know how to use it safely:

• Carefully read the directions for its use.
• Never place a space heater where a child or pet could accidentally knock it over.
• Never place a space heater too close to a bed, especially a child's bed.
• Keep newspapers, magazines, and fabrics from curtains, clothes, or bedding away from space heaters, radiators, and fireplaces.
• Heaters should be at least 3 feet from anything flammable.

Be careful in the kitchen

Did you know that cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States? The kitchen is rife with ways for a fire to start: food left unsupervised on a stove or in an oven or microwave; grease spills; a dish towel too close to the burner; a toaster or toaster oven flare-up; a coffee pot accidentally left on.

Always supervise kids while cooking and practice safe cooking habits — like turning all pot handles in so they can't be accidentally knocked over and not wearing loose-fitting clothing that could catch fire around the stove.

Never let kids play with matches and lighters

You've heard it again and again, but children playing with matches are still the leading cause of fire-related deaths and injuries for kids younger than 5. Always keep matches and lighters out of children's reach. Store flammable materials such as gasoline, kerosene, and flammable cleaning supplies outside of your home and away from kids.

Use candles safely

As decorative candles become more popular, candle fires are on the rise. If you light candles, keep them out of reach of kids and pets, away from curtains and furniture, and extinguish them before you go to bed. Make sure candles are in sturdy holders made of non-flammable material that won't tip over. Don't let older kids and teens use candles unsupervised in their rooms.

Be aware of holiday dangers

Around the holidays, there are even more potential fire hazards to think about. If you use a real Christmas tree in your home, make sure to water it daily — electric lights strung on a dried-out tree are a recipe for disaster. All lights and lighted window ornaments should be inspected every year to make sure that cords are not worn or frayed, and all candles should be used with care. According to the NFPA, the number of fires started by candles nearly doubles during the month of December.