COOKING
All U.S. homes should have working smoke alarms.
Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!
When cooking, stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on the stove.
Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.
Keep towels, pot holders, curtains, and paper products away from the stove.
Keep the stove and oven clean to prevent grease build-up.
If a cooking fire starts, smother it with a pot lid. Never throw water on a grease fire.
Heat oil slowly to avoid splattering. Be extra careful when frying foods.
When cooking in a microwave, do not use metal objects or aluminum foil (they could start a fire).
If a fire starts in the microwave, keep the door closed.
Check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave your house to be sure all appliances are turned off.
Get a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it.
Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
Make a fire escape plan and practice it monthly.
Cooking Fire Facts
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States.
Cooking is the leading cause of home fire injuries.
Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires.
Between 1999 and 2002, cooking fires caused about 290 deaths and 4,380 injuries each year.
All U.S. homes should have working smoke alarms.
Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!
If you smoke, think about quitting.
Never smoke in bed.
Put out all cigarettes, cigars, or pipes before you leave the room.
Use deep ashtrays. Don't put ashtrays on the arms of sofas or chairs.
Soak ashes in water before dumping them in the trash.
If you feel sleepy while reading or watching TV, put your cigarette out.
Close the matchbook before striking a match. Set cigarette lighters to low.
Keep matches and lighters locked up, away from children. Teach children to tell you if they find a lighter or matches.
Choose fire-safe cigarettes. They are made to go out if left unattended and are less likely to start a fire.
If smokers have visited, check floors and seat cushions for butts and ashes that may have been dropped.
For help to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).
Smoking Fire Facts
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable home fire deaths.
In 2003, an estimated 25,600 structure fires in the United States were caused by smoking materials. These fires caused 760 deaths and 1,520 injuries.
About 1 out of 4 fire deaths in 2003 was caused by smoking materials.
The most common things first ignited in deadly smoking-related home fire deaths were mattresses and bedding, upholstered furniture, and floor covering.
More fatal smoking fires start in living rooms, family rooms, and dens than in bedrooms.
All U.S. homes should have working smoke alarms.
Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!
Space heaters
Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn-including furniture, blankets, curtains, and paper products.
Choose space heaters that turn off automatically if they tip over.
Never use a space heater to dry clothing.
Turn off space heaters before you go to bed.
In a kerosene heater, use only the proper fuel. Check with the local fire department to make sure kerosene heaters are allowed in your community.
Refuel a heater outside, after it has cooled.
Fireplaces and wood stoves
Fires can be prevented! A few easy steps can save your life!
Have a service person inspect and clean your chimney or wood stove each year.
Use a metal or glass fireplace screen to keep sparks from hitting nearby carpets or furniture.
Keep air inlets on wood stoves open.
Keep kindling, paper, and décor away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
Never use gas or lighter fluid to start a fireplace or wood stove.
Burn only seasoned hardwood. Burning soft, moist wood causes a lot of creosote build-up and can cause a chimney fire.
Don't burn cardboard boxes, newspaper, or trash. They burn too hot and can cause a chimney fire.
Be sure vent pipes extend at least 3 feet above the roof.
Install stovepipe thermometers to check flue temperatures.
Follow manufacturer's instructions for installing and maintaining fireplaces and wood stoves.
Alternative Heating Fire Facts
More than one third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves, and other fuel-burning appliances to heat their homes.
Nearly 36,000 fires and 250 deaths occur each year from portable heaters, fireplaces, and chimneys.
Heating is the second leading cause of home fires.
Fireplaces and chimneys are the number one source of home heating equipment fires.
Portable space heaters are the top cause of fire deaths from home heating equipment.
ELECTRICAL WIRING AND APPLIANCES
All U.S. homes should have working smoke alarms.
Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!
Choose appliances and extension cords that are listed by Underwriters Laboratories or other nationally-recognized testing laboratories.
Insert plugs fully into sockets.
Don't overload extension cords or wall sockets.
Never force a three-prong cord into a two-slot outlet.
Use only heavy-duty extension cords for freezers, heaters, and other high-wattage appliances.
Never run cords under rugs or other items, and don't trap cords against walls where heat can build up.
Check appliances and wiring often. Replace worn, old, or damaged appliance cords right away.
Have an electrician check light switches that are hot, outlets that don't work, or lights that flicker.
If an appliance sparks, smokes, overheats, or gives a small shock, throw it away.
Electrical Wiring and Appliance Fire Facts
A fire caused by faulty electrical systems can destroy a home and everything in it within minutes.
Each year in the United States, electrical problems cause 67,800 home fires and 485 deaths.
December is the most dangerous month for electrical fires.
Common causes of electrical fires are misuse and poor maintenance of appliances, bad wiring, and overloaded circuits and cords.
Most electrical wiring fires start in the bedroom.
In urban areas, faulty wiring causes 33% of home fires.
Homes more than 40 years old are three times more likely than homes 11 to 20 years old to have an electrical fire.
CANDLES
All U.S. homes should have working smoke alarms.
Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!
Never leave a lit candle unattended.
Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
Keep lit candles away from bedding, curtains, and anything that can burn.
Put candles in sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic holders.
Place candles where they cannot tip over.
Blow out candles after use and before going to bed.
If the power goes out, avoid carrying a lit candle. Use a flashlight instead.
Candle Fire Facts
Candles start more than 13,000 home fires each year.
In 2000-2004, candles caused an average 200 fire deaths, 1,680 injuries, and $450 million in property damage each year.
Most candle fires start in the bedroom.
Christmas Day was the peak day of the year for home candle fires in 2000-2004.