Fire Prevention Month

FAST FACTS ON HOME FIRE SAFETY

Cooking:

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

Keep an eye on what you fry!  Unattended cooking is the most common factor leading to home fires.

Heating and Electrical:

Fixed or portable space heaters are involved in about 4 out of 5 heating fire deaths. Electrical failure or malfunctions cause nearly $1.5 billion in direct  property damage per year.

Smoke Alarms:

Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in home fires by half! Check your smoke alarm batteries every month. When they fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead. Three out of five (60%) reported home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no working smoke alarms or no smoke alarms.

Escape Planning:

Almost three quarters of Americans have an escape plan; however more than 50% have never practiced it. Fire experts say you will have less than 6 minutes before a fire in your home becomes life threatening. Often the time available to get out is even less. Remember to “Get out and stay out!”