Fire Safety Tips
Make sure you have adequate smoke detectors in your home. There should be one in the kitchen, and at least one more near bedroom doors. If you have a multi level house, there should be at least one on every level.

Always test your smoke detectors once a month to ensure they're working properly. Experts recommend you replace your smoke detector's batteries when we change our clocks in the Spring and Fall.

Be sure you have fire extinguishers strategically placed throughout your home and check them regularly. Also, keep an eye on the extinguisher's expiration date. When that date comes, replace the extinguisher with a new one, and properly dispose of the old one. If you do not know how to dispose of the old one, contact your local fire department.

In the event your clothes catch fire, remember STOP, DROP, and ROLL! Stop where you are, drop to the ground, and start rolling. Cover your face in the process.

Have an escape plan in the event of a fire. Sit down with those you live with and create a plan to get out, and decide upon a location to meet at away from your house. If your house has a second level, be sure there is a fire ladder that can be accessed in case of an emergency.

If there are any faulty electrical wires (i.e. lamps that are blinking on and off sporadically), replace them at once. More than likely there is a short and this can cause fires. Other signs of faulty wiring are electrical odors and/or frayed wires.

Teach your kids that matches are not toys. Furthermore; keep matches and lighters out of reach of young children.

Keep space heaters well away from window curtains and drapes (experts recommend at least 3 feet from these items). Keep children and pets away from them and be sure they're turned off before going to bed at night.

Watch smokers carefully. Make sure that they are properly putting out their cigarettes before leaving them. Cigarettes that are not extinguished are one of the leading causes of house fires.

During a fire, or the beginnings of a fire, the smoke is most dangerous of all. Crawl, don't walk. Stay low to the ground and under the smoke. Use a wet washcloth or rag to cover your mouth so you don't breathe in poisonous gas.

When you watch a TV show in which a fire is taking place, it appears as if the fire is bright orange flames. In many cases, during an actual fire the smoke is so dark that you will not be able to see much of anything. Proceed with EXTREME caution as you try to escape from the fire.

Don’t try to be a hero in a fire by running back into the house or building for something trivial. Your first priority is to get yourself outside and meet up with others in your family and call for help from the fire department if it has not been done so already.

Purchase a fire proof safe to keep your most important papers in. This is where you should store your bank papers, identification papers like birth certificates, and mortgage or rent documents. If there is some room left in there you can store personal items like photographs and jewelry. Or you can buy a second safe for those items. This way in the event of a fire, these items will remain safe.