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In just two minutes, a fire can become
life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in
flames.
Learn About Fires
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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. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of
fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.
Before a Fire
Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan
In the event of a fire, remember that every second
counts, so you and your family must always be prepared. Escape plans
help you get out of your home quickly.
Twice each year, practice your home fire escape
plan. 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.
-
There is less smoke
near the floor, once the smoke gets dense, crawl.
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A secondary route
might be a window onto a roof or a collapsible
ladder for escape from upper story windows.
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Make sure that
windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly, and
that 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.
Have an assembly point so that all the noses can
be counted (i.e end of driveway, etc.) and don't leave that assembly
point unless it becomes unsafe. Stay together to make the
firefighters job easier.
Smoke Alarms
A working smoke alarm significantly increases your
chances of surviving a deadly home fire.
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Install both
ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR dual sensor smoke
alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke
sensors.
-
Test batteries
monthly.
-
Replace batteries
in battery-powered and hard-wired smoke alarms at least once a
year (except non-replaceable 10-year lithium batteries).
-
Install smoke
alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, both
inside and outside of sleeping areas.
-
Replace the entire
smoke alarm unit every 8-10 years or according to manufacturer’s
instructions.
- Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking –
it can be a deadly mistake.
Smoke Alarm Safety for People with Access or
Functional Needs
-
Audible alarms for
visually impaired people should pause with a small window of
silence between each successive cycle so that they can listen to
instructions or voices of others.
-
Smoke alarms with a
vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the hearing
impaired. Contact your local fire department for information
about obtaining a flashing or vibrating smoke alarm.
- Smoke alarms with a strobe light outside the
home to catch the attention of neighbors, and emergency call
systems for summoning help, are also available.
More Fire Safety Tips
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Make digital copies
of valuable documents and records like birth certificates.
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Sleep with your
door closed.
-
Contact your local
fire department for information on training on the proper use
and maintenance of fire extinguishers.
During a Fire
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Crawl low under any
smoke to your exit - heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect
first along the ceiling.
-
Before opening a
door, feel the doorknob and door. If either is hot, or if there
is smoke coming around the door, leave the door closed and use
your second way out.
-
If you open a door,
open it slowly. Be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or
fire is present.
-
If you can’t get to
someone needing assistance, leave the home and call 9-1-1 or the
fire department. Tell the emergency operator where the person is
located.
-
If pets are trapped
inside your home, tell firefighters right away.
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If you can’t get
out, close the door and cover vents and cracks around doors with
cloth or tape to keep smoke 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.
- If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and
roll – 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 cannot stop, drop, and
roll, smother the flames with a blanket or towel. Use cool
water to treat the burn immediately for 3 to 5 minutes. Cover
with a clean, dry cloth. Get medical help right away by calling
9-1-1 or the fire department.
Fire Escape Planning for Older Adults and People
with Access or Functional Needs
-
Live near an exit.
You'll be safest on the ground floor if you live in an apartment
building. If you live in a multi-story home, arrange to sleep on
the ground floor, and near an exit.
-
If you use a walker
or wheelchair, check all exits to be sure you get through the
doorways.
-
Make any necessary
accommodations, such as providing exit ramps and widening
doorways, to facilitate an emergency escape.
-
Speak to your
family members, building manager, or neighbors about your fire
safety plan and practice it with them.
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Contact your local
fire department's non-emergency line and explain your special
needs. Ask emergency providers to keep your special needs
information on file.
- Keep a phone near your bed and be ready to
call 911 or your local emergency number if a fire occurs.
After a Fire
The following checklist serves as a quick
reference and guide for you to follow after a fire strikes.
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Contact your local
disaster relief service, such as The Red Cross, if you need
temporary housing, food and medicines.
-
If you are insured,
contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on
protecting the property, conducting inventory and contacting
fire damage restoration companies. If you are not insured, try
contacting private organizations for aid and assistance.
-
Check with the fire
department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Be
watchful of any structural damage caused by the fire.
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The fire department
should see that utilities are either safe to use or are
disconnected before they leave the site. DO NOT attempt to
reconnect utilities yourself.
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Conduct an
inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any
damaged goods until after an inventory is made.
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Try to locate
valuable documents and records. Refer to information on
contacts and the replacement process inside this brochure.
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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 income tax.
- Notify your mortgage company of the fire.
Do's and Don't After a House Fire
Did you know that within hours after a fire metal
fixtures like faucets and door handles begin to corrode? and,
did you know that the soot and dirty water left behind may contain
things that could make you sick?
Do's
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Don'ts |
Contact your Insurance Agent
and Mortgage Company. Ask them what they want you to
do about the immediate needs of your home, including
emergency water extraction, boarding up doors, windows, and
other openings. |
Do not enter your home until you check with
the Fire Department to make sure it is safe to enter.
Be careful! Floor and walls may not be as safe as they
look. |
Take pictures of all damaged
items. |
Do not try to use water, electricity or gas
until the Fire Department tells you they are safe to sue.
If they have been shut off. DO NOT try to turn them on
by yourself. |
Discard all food and drink that
was exposed to smoke and empty the refrigerator and freezer
- prop the doors open. These might be contaminated
with potential carcinogens from the fire. |
Do not eat, drink, or breath in anything
that has been near the fire's flames, smoke, soot, or water
used to put the fire out. |
If heat is off and temperatures
are freezing, protect your pipes from bursting. Pour
one tablespoon of antifreeze down sinks, toilet bowls, and
tub drains, but do no let pets drink from these locations
and become poisoned. |
Do not clean, or attempt to start
appliances or electronics until they have been examined or
repaired by certified technicians. |
Send all clothing and curtains
with smoke damage to a qualified professional dry cleaner
who specializes in smoke-damaged textiles. |
Don't launder or dry clean clothing.
Smoke damaged textiles required special handling to remove
the odor and potential carcinogens. |
Prevent Home Fires
Home fires are 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. If you leave
the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
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Wear short,
close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
-
Keep children away
from cooking areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of 3 feet
around the stove.
- Position barbecue grills at least 10 feet
away from siding and deck railings, and out from under eaves and
overhanging branches.
Smoking
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Smoke outside and
completely stub out butts in an ashtray or a can filled with
sand.
-
Soak cigarette
butts and ashes in water before throwing them away. Never toss
hot cigarette butts or ashes in the trash can.
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Never smoke in a
home where oxygen is used, even if it is turned off. Oxygen can
be explosive and makes fire burn hotter and faster.
- Be alert - don’t smoke in bed! If you are
sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine that makes
you drowsy, put your cigarette out first.
Electrical and Appliance Safety
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Frayed wires can
cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords
immediately and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.
-
If an appliance has
a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never
force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
- Immediately shut off, then professionally
replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights
that flicker.
Portable Space Heaters
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Keep combustible
objects at least three feet away from portable heating devices.
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Buy only heaters
evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as
Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
-
Check to make 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.
Fireplaces and Woodstoves
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Inspect and clean
woodstove 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.
Children
-
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 Prevention Tips
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