General Fire Safety

House fires can double in size every minute, which is why we all need to be careful and educated when it comes to fire safety. Just a little bit of planning can make a big difference for your family.

Safety Tips – Resources

The Hard Facts

In 2015, there were 1,345,500 reported fires in our country. Over half a million of these were structure fires causing 2,685 deaths, 13,000 injuries and 10.3 billion dollars in damage. 

Every 86 seconds, a house fire is reported.

Every 34 minutes, a civilian injury is reported.

Every 2 hours and 40 minutes, a civilian death is reported. 

Top Tips

• Working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by nearly 50%. They are our first line defense for any house fire. Please take the time to follow manufactures recommendations. Give them a vacuum every now and again, test them monthly and replace every 10 years. 
• Teach kids never to play with matches and lighters. Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children.
• Create and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of your house in case of a fire. Get a stopwatch and time how fast your family can escape. The kids will love it.
• Children should know how to respond to the sound of a smoke alarm. Teach them to get low and get out, don’t stay in danger for pets or toys, never hide from fire or firefighters and make a “meeting place” outside your home to congregate during an emergency.