This is one of those things we hear a lot about, but really can’t be overstressed. To me is seems that almost all fires and fire related injuries are preventable. Like anything else, a plan is needed. A good fire plans should have three main points:

1. Fire Prevention
3. Limiting fire damage
2. Fire Warning and escape

Fire prevention is the most sure way to keep you and your family safe. Things that we take for granted like electricity, heating and cooking appliances are the most likely starters of home fires.

Fires starting from electric source can be due to damaged or frayed cords, over loaded outlets, old or underrated wiring, use of improper fuses, damaged appliances and so on. The National Fire Protection Agency oversees the National Electrical Code (NEC). Most electricians simply call it “The Code” or “Code.” The NEC is in place to establish a uniform standard for building inspectors to use when evaluating new wiring. It is the standard for electrical safety.

Christmas time is an especially tragic time of the year to have a fire, and yet, with all the Christmas lights and other decorations, overloaded outlets and extension cords are common. If an extension cord or electrical cord feels hot when in use, it is overloaded and its use should be discontinued.

Other areas where fires can start heating appliances. The furnace or boiler should be serviced once a year. Gas and oil fired hot water heaters need to also be serviced once a year. Make sure the chimney is clean and clear of debris. The rest of this stuff is common sense like don’t use your kitchen stove to heat the house, don’t put combustible material near your stove where it can come in contact with a hot burner. Don’t store flammable liquids inside your house. If you have a wood stove, make sure the chimney is cleaned once a year. Make sure your vent for you clothes dryer is clear of lint. Don’t leave burning candles unattended.

Limiting fire damage. Every house should have at least one medium sized all purpose fire extinguisher on hand. All purpose means all fire classes, which will be noted on the fire extinguisher as A B and C. These are dry chemical units which work well on any type of fire.

Fire clases:

A class A fire is combustibles like wood and paper. Water, dry chemical or CO2 will work on these types of fires.

A class B fire is liquids such as oil and gas. This includes cooking oil. Water will spread this type of fire around. Dry chemical or CO2 will work on these types of fires

A Class C fire is electrical. This is were an electrical circuit is still energized and there is arcing and sparking. Dry chemical or CO2 will work on these types of fires. If the electricity is turned off, this type fire usually becomes a class A fire.

If something catches fire on a stove, the best thing to do is put a cover on it. If the fire has gone beyond control, get everyone out of there and call the fire department. Smoke inhalation is the most common fire related injury and a serious risk. Nothing is worth risking your life over.

Smoke Detectors and other warning devices. Most states require that any residential dwelling have a smoke detector installed. I recommend there be several and most importantly, the batteries get changed twice a year when the clock change over for daylight savings time occurs. If you have a combustion type heating device (something that burns gas, oil or wood) in your home, it is very important to have a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon Monoxide (CO) results from incomplete combustion. It is odorless, colorless, and will quickly render someone unconscious and eventually dead. A combination smoke and CO detector is slightly more expensive but well worth the money. Plug in CO detectors are also available, either unit will work fine.

Make sure to have an evacuation plan, including a meeting place once out of the house. Practice your evacuation plan with your children to be sure that they know what they are supposed to do if the smoke detector goes off. This is very important. Often parents are injured or killed because they go back into a burning structure to rescue children because they are unaware that everyone is already escaped.

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