Fire Hazards

Normal fire prevention rules are of special importance in an emergency. To keep fires form starting: Don't let junk accumulate. Clean out attics, basements, closets and garages frequently.

Check Electrical Wiring and Appliances. Replace worn or frayed cords. Don't operate to many appliances on one circuit. Don't string extension wires all over the house, and never under rugs. Use irons or other heating appliances with caution.

Store Explosive or Flammable Materials Carefully Outside. Never us gasoline, benzene, naphtha, and similar fluids indoors or near a flame: they will ignite readily form any kind of spark. Rags soaked with oil or turpentine sometimes catch fire by themselves (this is called spontaneous ignition), and therefore should never be left lying around.

Check Heating Devices. Many home fires are started by faulty furnaces and stoves, cracked or rusted furnace pipes, and soot chimneys.

Don't Place Papers or Magazines on Radiators or near stoves or fireplaces. Don't allow lampshades to touch electric bulbs.

Be prepared before a fire occurs in your home by developing a safe route for your family and conducting regular fire drills.

First, decide upon two different exit paths. If the first exit you try is blocked by fire and smoke, you are more likely to remember to try the other exit if you've already planned two ways of escape.

Second, select a specific place outside where everyone will meet. Firefighters need to know who is safe and who may not be. If your family meets in one place you can quickly tell firefighters if anyone is missing.
 

Fire Safety

Having regular fire drills can help teach you family to remember what to do in case of a fire. Follow these steps during a fire and in case of a fire:

  • Stay low. Don't stand up. If you are in bed, roll out and crawl low on the floor under the smoke.
  • Crawl to the door, using the wall as a guide. Check the door for heat with the back of your hand before opening.
  • If a door is cool when you touch it open it only a crack so it can be shut quickly if there are flames or smoke on the other side.
  • If the door is hot or smoke is seeping underneath, Do Not Open The Door. Push a blanket, towel, robe or other heavy clothing in the crack.
  • Using the wall as a guide, crawl to a window and open it. Take a sheet or any large piece of fabric, wave it out the window and shout for help. Or if the window is low to the ground climb out of it.
  • When you escape a brining building, Never return for something you forgot or to look for other people or a pet. Got to the meeting place and stay there. Let a firefighter know immediately if anyone is missing.
  • If firefighters are not at the fire scene yet, call or tell someone to call 911. Do Not call from within your house. Escape First.

REMEMBER:

  • Your job is to escape.
  • Stay as low as possible
  • Take short breaths to avoid breathing in fumes and smoke.
  • Do not move towards smoke or fire.
  • Signal others in the house by pounding on the walls, floor or doors. Shout "FIRE" but do this once you are outside the heavy smoke.

Besides planning an escape route and conducting fire drills, in hoe smoke detectors can save lives too.

Smoke detectors can warn you that there is a fire. However, it is important to keep fire detectors in proper working order. Check and place batteries every nine (9) to twelve (12) months. A good way to remember this might be by changing the batteries every daylight savings time change. Some Units will generate a beeping sound to indicate when the batteries need to be replaced.

Make sure to clean your smoke detectors at least once a year because dust can damage the units. Also, test the detector periodically by pushing the test button. This should be done at least once every month. The National Bureau of Standards test shows untested detectors lose about half of their dependency after a 10 year period.
 

Wild Fires

Wild fires occur as a result of lightning or man-made causes such as discarded cigarettes and campfires. A fire in your home may spread to the forest. Homes in or near forest areas are classified as being in the "Urban Interface".

When you build or buy a home in one of the Urban Interface areas, you have accepted the fact that these areas may have poor access, native vegetation, steep slopes, and poor or no fire fighting water supplies.

In order to attempt to prevent a tragedy, you need to be aware of wildfires hazards and what to do when a wild fire occurs in your area.

Click here for Current Fire Bans and Restrictions
 

Before a Fire

When moving to a new area, check with your local Fire Department to determine the wild fire hazard in your area, and what can be done to reduce hazards.

Obtain guidelines to create a "defensible space" around your home and make other improvements to increase the chances that it can survive a wild fire.

Defensible Space Includes: Reducing the hazard area of at least 30 feet from the home by:

  • Reducing density of surrounding forest
  • Thinning trees and brush cover
  • Maintaining an irrigated greenbelt
  • Cleaning your roof and gutters.
  • Trimming branches
  • Removing dead limbs and other litter
  • Mowing dry grasses and weeds
  • Pruning branches to 10 feet above ground

Other improvements include improving driveway access and water supplies, having a fire resistant roof, enclosing overhanging eaves and decks, spark arresters on chimney etc.
 

Developing a Fire Plan

  • Create an evacuation plan that includes all family members & animals.
  • Know where your escape routes are located.
  • Know where you can find a safety zone in the event it's to late to evacuate. Safety zone may be large areas where little or no vegetation or other fuel exists.
  • Prearrange normal and alternate ways to stay in touch with family members who are not at home. Let relatives or friends know your fire plan and check in as soon as possible.
     

Provide Equipment

  • Pre-connect hoses to faucets
  • Provide a ladder long enough to reach the roof easily.
  • Have one or more 5-pund multi-purpose extinguishers readily available.
  • Have protective clothing available for anyone who is unable to evacuate before the first help arrives. This includes cotton long-sleeve shirt or jacket and trousers. Leather boots, gloves, helmet or other head covering, goggles and a handkerchief to provide minimum protection for lungs.
     

Before the Fire Approaches Your House

  • Call 911: don't assume that someone else has already called. Describe the location of the fire, speak slowly, and answer any questions asked by the dispatcher.
  • Locate valuable that you will take with you if you have to evacuate your home.
  • Clear items that will burn from around the house. Move them outside of your defensible space.
  • Close all windows, doors, vents, shutters, blinds, or heavy noncombustible window coverings to reduce radiant heat.
  • Shut off any natural gas or propane tanks at the source.
  • Back your car into the driveway and roll up the windows.
  • Place valuable papers, mementoes, and anything "you can't live without" into your car.
     

Evacuation From Your Home

If asked to evacuate by fire or law enforcement personnel, or if you should decide to evacuate:

  • Turn outside lights on, and leave a light on in every room.
  • Leave all outside doors unlocked to allow firefighters to enter to fight a fire inside you home.
  • Open barn doors, fences, and other enclosed areas to let large animals escape as necessary.
  • Leave the house as soon as possible, follow directions given by firefighters or other law enforcement personnel. If you are told to go to a certain area, go there: DON'T' GO ANYWHERE ELSE.

  • If you are trapped at home stay calm. As the fire front approaches, go into your home. If your home catches fire, evacuate.
     

Survival In Your Vehicle

  • Roll up all windows and close air vents to prevent smoke from entering your vehicle.
  • Turn lights on and drive slowly looking for other vehicles.
  • Do not drive through heavy smoke or fire.
  • If you are caught in the fire, get on the floor ad cover up with a blanket or coat. Do not leave your vehicle, until the fire passes. Some smoke or sparks may enter the vehicle, and air currents may rock the car. Gas tanks rarely explode.
     

After the Fire

  • Do not return to your home unless advised by firefighters or other law enforcement personnel.
  • Check your home for any hot spots or small fires.
  • Report any broken utilities to your utility company.