HELP PREVENT FIRES

• Avoid smoking in bed, or when drowsy or medicated. Bed linens are highly combustible. It is easier to be burned, and highly likely individuals will suffer severe burns, when fires start in beds. Drowsy or medicated people may forget lit materials, resulting in fire.
  
  
• Provide smokers with deep, sturdy ash trays. Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before disposal. Smoking materials is the leading cause of residential fire deaths in the United States.
  
  
• Keep matches and lighters up high, away from children, preferably in a locked cabinet. Children are fascinated by fire and may play with matches and lighters if they are not kept out of reach.
  
  
• Make sure your home heating source is clean and in working order. Many home fires are started by poorly maintained furnaces or stoves, cracked or rusted furnace parts, or chimneys with creosote buildup.
  
  
• Use portable heaters in well-ventilated rooms only. Keep blankets, clothing, curtains, furniture, and anything that could get hot and catch fire at least three feet away from all heat sources. Plug heaters directly into the wall socket and unplug them when they are not in use. Portable heaters use oxygen and produce potentially toxic gases. It is best to keep them well-ventilated to avoid gas build-up.
  
  
• Use kerosene heaters only if permitted by law in your area. Refuel kerosene heaters outdoors only, after they have cooled. Kerosene has a low flash point. If mistakenly dripped on hot surfaces, it can cause fires.
  
  
• Have chimneys and wood stoves inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. Chimneys and wood stoves build up creosote, which is the residue left behind by burning wood. Creosote is flammable and needs to be professionally removed periodically.
  
  
• Keep the stove area clean and clear of combustibles, such as towels, clothing, curtains, bags, boxes and appliances. Combustible materials near stoves may catch fire quickly when your attention is elsewhere.
  
  
• Cook with short or restrained sleeves. Loose sleeves can catch fire quickly.
  
  
• Check your home for hazards. These can include frayed electrical cords, exposed wires or loose plugs, as well as overloaded outlets or extension cords. Store combustible materials in open areas away from heat sources.

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