Fall
Cooler temperatures. Turning the heat back on. Dusting off the fireplace. Stay warm and cozy and safe from fire.
There are a few things homeowners can do to ensure their heating systems are well maintained and safe to use:
🔄 Regularly replace furnace filters.
🚫 Keep areas around your furnace free of clutter and combustible material. Never set items on top of your furnace.
↔ Keep combustible materials a safe distance from vent/exhaust lines.
🤳 If you notice any issues with your home heating system, contact a professional immediately. Certified HVAC contractors often offer preventative care services that include cleaning, reducing fire risk and having the added benefit of lowering utility costs.
Don't let fire hazards put a damper on your Halloween fun.
🎃 Use glow sticks or battery-operated candles for jack-o'-lanterns and other decor.
🚫 Don't choose costumes with long, trailing fabric.
👦 Teach kids to stay way from open flames.
↔ Keep decor away from open flames/other heat sources.
🚪 Keep exits clear of decorations.
Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home cooking fires.
Stay safe:
🥘 Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
🍗 Stay in the home when cooking the turkey, and check on it frequently.
↔ Keep children at least 3 feet away from the stove.
✋ Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids to avoid burns.
🔌 Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
☝ Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
🕯 Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
🧸 Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, purses or bags.
👉 Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
Winter
Cooking. Holiday lights. Heat systems on full blast. Fill your winter season with warmth, not fire.
Half of all home heating fires happen in December, January, and February.
Here are tips to stay safe:
🧹 Have a professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents each year.
🔌 Plug space heaters directly into an outlet; never use an extension cord.
💨 Install carbon monoxide alarms and test them at least once per month.
🔌 Only plug one heat-producing appliance into an outlet at a time
↔ Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container at least 10 feet from your home/nearby buildings.
💡 Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage of the light fixture.
Did you know? Christmas is the peak day for candle fires.
🕎 Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn.
🎄 Keep trees at least three feet from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles, and heat vents.
👋 Get rid of your Christmas tree after the holiday or when it's dry.
✨ Read string light instructions and throw away any strands that are worn or damaged.
Spring
Spring cleaning is a good time to remove fire hazards from the home.
Spring cleaning is a good time to tackle some common fire hazards:
🔌 Discontinue electrical appliances with frayed cords
🚫 Make sure cords don't extend under rugs or other flammable materials
👀 Inspect your dryer's lint traps and exhaust ducts for debris
🍂 Remove dead leaves/other flammable debris from foundations, under decks, porches, and stairs
👉 Test smoke alarms
⛽ Make sure gasoline is only stored in containers sold for that purpose
🚫 Never bring gasoline indoors; keep gasoline containers in a detached garage or outdoor shed
🚫 Don't store oily rags in a pile; take them outside to dry — well away from structures
🧼 Put dragged oily rags in a tightly covered metal container; fill with a water and detergent solution to break down oils
🚪 Keep containers of oily rags in a cool place, out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources, and check with your town for info on how to properly dispose of them
Grilling
From 2014-18, fire departments responded to an average of 8.9 thousand home fires involving grills, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
🚫🚶♂️ Never leave a grill unattended
🌳 Only use grills outdoors
🐜 Check grill for rust, insects, spiders, grease, and other debris before use
🧼 Clean grease and fat buildup before using
↔ Place grill away from your home, deck railings, eaves, and overhanging branches
🕵️♀️ Check gas tank hose for leaks before using grill for the first time each year
👧🐶 Keep kids and pets at least 3 feet from grill area
⬆ Always open gas lid before lighting it
Burning
🔥 Only burn yard debris or use fire pits when permitted by local ordinances
🚫 Don't burn during dry/windy weather
Summer
Fireworks. Campfires. Grilling Safety. Stay safe while enjoying fun in the sun.
Fireworks cause thousand of injuries and fires each year.
If you decide to light fireworks, always follow local laws, read instructions, and do so as safely as possible.
🔥 Only burn yard debris or use fire pits when permitted by local ordinances
🚫 Don't burn during dry/windy weather
July is the top month for grill fires, with about half of all injuries being thermal burns. Stay safe by following these tips:
🚫🚶♂️ Never leave a grill unattended
🌳 Only use grills outdoors
🐜 Check grill for rust, insects, spiders, grease, and other debris before use
🧼 Clean grease and fat buildup before using
↔ Place grill away from your home, deck railings, eaves, and overhanging branches
🕵️♀️ Check gas tank hose for leaks before using grill for the first time each year
👧🐶 Keep kids and pets at least 3 feet from grill area
⬆ Always open gas lid before lighting it
