Fire Safety

How do I create a home fire escape plan?

Every household should have a fire escape plan and practice it twice a year. Follow these steps to create your plan:

  1. Draw a floor plan of your home showing all rooms, doors, and windows
  2. Mark two escape routes from each room (door and window)
  3. Choose a meeting place outside and away from the home
  4. Teach everyone to test doors for heat before opening
  5. Practice crawling low under smoke
  6. Designate someone to help young children, elderly, or pets

Important: Once you're out, stay out! Never go back inside a burning building. Call 911 from a safe location and let firefighters do the rescue work.

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Fire Safety
How do I prevent kitchen fires?
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How do I prepare for wildfire season?
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Do I need a carbon monoxide detector?
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Close Your Door Before Bed
Keeping your bedroom door closed while you sleep can hold back flames and toxic smoke for several minutes, giving you critical extra time to escape. A closed door can mean the difference between a survivable and unsurvivable room temperature during a house fire.
Smoke Alarms Cut Your Risk in Half
Working smoke alarms reduce your risk of dying in a home fire by roughly 50%. Test your alarms monthly, replace batteries at least once a year, and replace the entire unit every 10 years. If you hear that chirping sound, change the battery immediately — do not ignore it.