Be FireSmart

1. General
   • Keep candles and lamps at least one foot away from your curtains.
   • Have an electrician inspect and tighten any loose electrical connections at least once a year.
   • Use safety caps to cover all unused outlets.
   • Use large, deep ashtrays. Never leave a burning cigarette unattended.
   • Never use candles in your bedroom.
   • Keep all lamps free of flammable materials.
   • Don't run electrical cords under rugs.
   • Replace and repair loose or frayed electrical cords.
   • Don't allow permanent use of extension cords.
   • Don't staple or nail electrical cords.
   • Never smoke in bed.
   • Never leave heavy objects on the bed when an electric blanket is in use.
   • Install a carbon monoxide alarm near bedrooms.
2. Bathroom
   • Don't overload outlets with cords from too many appliances. Plug them in one at a time.
   • If an outlet or switch feels unusually warm, stop using it and call an electrician.
   • Never set hot appliances on flammable materials.
   • Unplug all appliances when done using them.
   • Make sure cords from appliances are not getting pinched in drawers.
   • Keep towels and other flammables at least three feet away from space heaters.
3. Hallway
   • Install ceiling-mounted smoke alarms that are at least four inches away from the walls on every level of your home.
   • Ensure smoke alarms are UL listed.
   • Wall-mounted smoke alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
   • Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors or ducts.
   • Test your smoke alarms once a month.
   • Vacuum your smoke alarms every six months.
   • Change your smoke alarm batteries at least once a year. Make sure batteries are always insmoke alarms.
4. Kitchen
   • If you have a fire extinguisher, be sure you are properly trained to use it.
   • Make sure the fire extinguisher is for multipurpose use.
   • Keep the fire extinguisher in a place where it is easy to access.
   • Never leave anything on the stove or under the broiler unattended.
   • Keep the cooking area clear of items that can burn.
   • Maintain a three-foot kid-free and pet-free zone around the stove.
   • Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing while you are cooking.
5. Basement
   • Have your heating system serviced once a year before cold weather begins.
   • When buying a new unit, have a qualified technician install it or check that it was installed properly.
   • Choose a heating device with an automatic shutoff feature.
   • Make sure your clothes dryer is installed and serviced by a professional.
   • Have a gas-powered dryer inspected by a professional at least once a year to check flexible gas lines for damage and proper connection, and to ensure all piping is free of leaks.
   • Keep areas around heating sources clear of debris and insulated from the heating source.
   • Be sure to clean the lint tray in your dryer before each use and check around the drum for anyaccumulated lint.
   • Have a professional clean the inside of your dryer every one to three years.
   • Do not store clothing or other combustibles any closer than one foot from the dryer.
   • Do not let your dryer continue running when you leave your home.
6. Outdoors
   • Keep your grill at least three feet away from your home.
   • If you live in a place where it snows, remember to keep all exhaust vents from your home clearand shovel out hydrants near your home.
   • Develop and practice a home evacuation plan.
   • Make sure every family member knows two ways out of each room in your home.
   • Practice escaping, staying low to the ground and not opening doors that are hot to the touch.
   • Assign a family member to assist anyone with a mobility issue.
   • Choose a place outside your home for all family members to meet. Get out of the home first and then call the fire department from a neighbor's phone. Make sure everyone knows not to return inside the home.

For more information about fire safety, visit BeFireSmart.com