Learn how to prevent fires, react quickly, and keep your home and loved ones safe. Use this guide to prepare for the Fire Safety Quiz!
1️⃣ Leading Causes of Home Fires
🔥 Cooking-related fires are the #1 cause of home fires. Most occur when food is left unattended on the stove or grease overheats.
🔥 Other common causes include:
✔ Electrical issues – Overloaded outlets, faulty wiring, and damaged cords.
✔ Heating equipment – Space heaters placed too close to flammable objects.
✔ Candles – Never leave them burning unattended or near curtains or paper.
2️⃣ Fire Safety Drills & Escape Planning
🚨 Fires can spread in less than 2 minutes! Have a plan to evacuate quickly.
✔ Know two ways out of every room – Primary and backup escape routes.
✔ Practice fire drills at least twice a year, including at night.
✔ Crawl low under smoke – Toxic gases rise, so staying low improves survival.
✔ Check doors before opening – If the handle is hot, DO NOT OPEN. Find another exit.
✔ Have a designated meeting place outside your home.
3️⃣ Smoke Alarms & Fire Extinguishers
🚨 Smoke alarms save lives!
✔ Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallway, and level of your home.
✔ Test them monthly and replace batteries yearly.
✔ Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
🔥 Types of Fire Extinguishers & Their Uses:
✔ Class A – Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, cloth).
✔ Class B – Flammable liquids (grease, gasoline, oil).
✔ Class C – Electrical fires (NEVER use water!).
✔ Class K – Kitchen fires (grease, oils).
🚨 PASS Method to Use a Fire Extinguisher:
✔ Pull the pin.
✔ Aim at the base of the fire.
✔ Squeeze the handle.
✔ Sweep side to side.
4️⃣ Kitchen Fire Safety
🔥 Never leave cooking unattended!
✔ Keep flammable items (paper towels, dishcloths) away from stoves.
✔ Turn pot handles inward to prevent spills.
✔ Grease fires: NEVER use water! Smother with a lid, baking soda, or fire extinguisher.
5️⃣ What to Do If Your Clothes Catch Fire
🔥 STOP, DROP, and ROLL! 🔥
✔ STOP – Running makes flames spread faster.
✔ DROP – Get on the ground immediately.
✔ ROLL – Cover your face and roll side to side until the flames are out.
6️⃣ What to Do If You Hear a Smoke Alarm at Night
🚨 React immediately!
✔ Get out fast – Do not collect valuables.
✔ Stay low to avoid smoke inhalation.
✔ Feel doors before opening – If hot, find another exit.
✔ Once out, stay out! Call 911 from outside.
7️⃣ Handling Electrical & Heating Fires
⚡ Prevent Electrical Fires
✔ Don’t overload outlets.
✔ Replace frayed or damaged cords.
✔ Unplug appliances when not in use.
🔥 Space Heater Safety
✔ Keep at least 3 feet of clearance from furniture, curtains, or bedding.
✔ Turn off heaters before leaving the room or going to sleep.
8️⃣ Fire Safety for Pets & Children
🐾 Pets Need a Plan Too!
✔ Keep pet carriers, food, and water ready for emergencies.
✔ Never leave pets behind – they may not survive.
👶 Keep Kids Safe!
✔ Teach children NOT to hide during fires.
✔ Keep matches and lighters out of reach.
9️⃣ Preventing House & Holiday Fires
✔ Keep Christmas trees watered to prevent them from drying out.
✔ Use flameless LED candles instead of real ones.
✔ Clean dryer vents at least once a year – Lint is highly flammable!
🔟 What to Do If Trapped During a Fire
🚨 If escape is impossible:
✔ Stay in a room with a window and wave a flashlight or cloth for help.
✔ Seal the door with wet towels to block smoke.
✔ Call 911 and tell them your location.
1️⃣1️⃣ Understanding Smoke Inhalation Risks
🔥 Most fire-related deaths are caused by smoke inhalation, not burns.
✔ Fire smoke contains carbon monoxide and cyanide, which can cause suffocation.
✔ Get low to breathe cleaner air.
✔ Stay near windows if trapped and wait for rescue.
1️⃣2️⃣ Safe Storage of Flammable Liquids
✔ Store gasoline and paints in cool, ventilated areas, away from heat sources.
✔ NEVER store gasoline inside your home.
✔ Use approved metal or plastic containers.
1️⃣3️⃣ When & Where Fires Start Most Often
🔥 Most house fires start between 5 PM and 8 PM – when people are cooking, using appliances, or lighting candles.
🔥 Keep fire extinguishers easily accessible in high-risk areas (kitchen, garage, exits).
1️⃣4️⃣ Candle & Space Heater Safety
✔ Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable.
✔ NEVER leave them unattended!
✔ Consider using flameless LED candles.
1️⃣5️⃣ Fire Extinguisher Placement
✔ Have at least one extinguisher per floor, especially in the kitchen and near exits.
✔ Know how to use it before an emergency happens!
1️⃣6️⃣ What to Do If a Fire Starts in Your Home
✔ GET OUT immediately!
✔ Do NOT try to fight large fires yourself.
✔ Call 911 from outside.
1️⃣7️⃣ How to Escape a High-Rise Fire
✔ NEVER use an elevator! Always use stairs.
✔ If the stairwell is blocked, stay inside your apartment, seal doors, and call 911.
1️⃣8️⃣ Fire Safety at Work
✔ Know your building’s fire exits and extinguisher locations.
✔ Do not block exits or prop open fire doors.
✔ Participate in fire drills and emergency training.
1️⃣9️⃣ Fire Prevention in the Garage & Attic
✔ Store flammable materials in fireproof cabinets.
✔ Keep wiring in attics and garages up to code.
✔ Never plug high-wattage appliances into extension cords.
2️⃣0️⃣ Final Fire Safety Tips
✔ Check smoke alarms monthly.
✔ Replace old extension cords – avoid overloading outlets.
✔ Have a family fire escape plan – practice it!
✔ Teach kids how to safely evacuate.
🚒 Be Fire Smart, Stay Safe!
Now that you’ve studied, take the Fire Safety Quiz and test your knowledge! 🚨🔥
