A fire can engulf a structure in a matter of minutes. Understanding the basic characteristics of fire and learning the proper safety practices can be the key to surviving a house or building fire. Listed below are some fire safety tips. Contact your local fire department or American Red Cross chapter for more information about fire safety.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Fire is the fourth largest accidental killer in the United States, behind motor vehicle accidents, falls, and drownings. It is also the disaster that families are mostly likely to experience. Over 80 percent of all fire deaths occur where people sleep, such as in homes or hotels.
- Most fires occur when people are likely to be less alert such as between midnight and morning. Eighty-four percent of house and building fires are accidental, such as those caused by poor electrical wiring or careless behavior. However, 16 percent are set intentionally through arson or acts of terrorism.
- The leading cause of death in a fire is asphyxiation. Fire victims seldom see the flames. Fire consumes the oxygen in the air, thereby increasing the concentration of deadly carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. Inhaling carbon monoxide causes a loss of consciousness or death within minutes.
- The heat from a fire can melt clothes and scorch the lungs in a single breath. At floor level, temperatures average about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but at eye level rise to 600 degrees.
- House fires begin with a bright flame then quickly generate a black, choking smoke. It is nearly impossible to see through a thick cloud of smoke, so fire drill participants should practice evacuating buildings with their eyes closed.
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Install smoke detectors.
Check them once a month and change the batteries at least once a year.
Develop and practice an escape plan. Make sure all family members know what to do in a fire.
- Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room. Choose a safe meeting place outside the house.
- Practice alerting other household members. It is a good idea to keep a bell and a flashlight in each bedroom for this purpose.
- Practice evacuating the building blindfolded. In a real fire situation, the amount of smoke generated by a fire will most likely make it impossible to see.
- Practice staying low to the ground when escaping.
- Feel all doors before opening them. If the door is hot, get out another way.
- Learn to stop, drop to the ground, and roll if clothes catch fire.
Post emergency numbers near telephones.
However, be aware that if a fire threatens your home, you should not place the call to your emergency services from inside the home. It is better to get out first and place the call from somewhere else.
Purchase collapsible ladders at hardware stores and practice using them.
Install A-B-C type fire extinguishers in the home and teach family members how to use them.
Do not store combustible materials in closed areas or near a heat source.
Check electrical wiring.
- Replace wiring if frayed or cracked.
- Make sure wiring is not under rugs, over nails, or in high traffic areas.
- Do not overload outlets or extension cords.
- Outlets should have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
- Only purchase appliances and electrical devices that have a label indicating that they have been inspected by a testing laboratory such as Under Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).
Get out as quickly and as safely as possible.
Use the stairs to escape.
When evacuating, stay low to the ground.
If possible, cover mouth with a cloth to avoid inhaling smoke and gases.
Close doors in each room after escaping to delay the spread of the fire.
If in a room with a closed door.
Seriously injured or burned victims should be transported to professional medical help immediately.
Stay out of damaged buildings.
Return home only when local fire authorities say it is safe.
Look for structural damage.
Check that all wiring and utilities are safe.
Discard food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, or soot.
Contact insurance agent.
Don’t discard damaged goods until after an inventory has been taken. Save receipts for money spent relating to fire loss.
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Smoke detectors more than double the chance of surviving a fire. Smoke detectors sense abnormal amounts of smoke or invisible combustion gases in the air. They can detect both smouldering and burning fires. At least one smoke detector should be installed on every level of a structure. Test the smoke detectors each month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Purchase smoke detectors labeled by the Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).
Heating devices such as portable heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces demand safe operation. Use portable heaters in well-ventilated rooms only. Refuel kerosene heaters outdoors only. Have chimneys and wood stoves cleaned annually. Buy only approved heaters and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
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Keep the stove area clean and clear of combustibles such as bags, boxes, and other appliances. If a fire starts, put a lid over the burning pan or use a fire extinguisher. Be careful. Moving the pan can cause the fire to spread. Never pour water on grease fires.
- Loss of life from fires has been significantly reduced because of improved technology for fire response and a better educated public - particularly regarding the life-saving advantages of using and maintaining smoke detectors. The United States Fire Administration reports a 5.9 percent reduction in deaths attributable to fires over the period of 1983 to 1990.
- On average, fires kill nearly 5,500 Americans each year. Over 30,000 people are injured in fires annually.
- In the United States, someone dies in a fire every 40 minutes. Most often, victims are children or the elderly.
- Nearly 25 percent of the fires that kill young children are started by children playing with fire. Approximately 1,300 senior citizens die in fires annually.
- Approximately three-quarters of all fire fatalities occur in residential dwellings.
- Each year, fire causes over $2 billion worth of damage to homes.
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Information compiled from the Federal Emegency Management Agency.
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