• Cooking fires are the #1 cause of home fires and injuries, resulting in over 300 deaths, 400 injuries and over $5.0 million in property damages.
• Hundreds more deaths and thousands more injuries are caused by children playing with matches, lighters, candles, cigarettes and other dangerous materials.
• Clothes dryers lead to over 14,000 fires a year with over 300 injuries, almost 20 deaths and over $60.0 million in property damage.
• Candles are responsible for up to 10,000 residential fires with almost 100 deaths, 1000 injuries and $120.0 million in property loss, mostly due to candles being left unattended.

Now look around your home. Are any of these risk factors present? While we aren’t trying to scare you, we do want you to be aware of potential fire hazards in your home. Now that you are, here are some simple steps to take to reduce those risks and have a safer home.

CANDLES

• Extinguish all lit items when you leave a room, the home, or go to bed
• Keep away from flammable items, including clothing, curtains, books, papers, decorations or plants

Do not play with candles with small children, teach them that they are hot and can burn them

• Create a three foot kid free zone around your stove
• Never leave anything on the stove or in the microwave unattended
• Keep cooking areas clean and free of combustible materials such as towels, grocery bags, curtains, etc.
• Keep pot handles turned inward to prevent bumping
• Always keep a pot holder, oven mitt and lid handy

• Never discharge a fire extinguisher into a pan

When in doubt, get out of the house and call your local fire department

CLOTHES DRYERS

• Do not run your dryer without a lint filter; clean the filter between every use, remove lint from around the drum
• Make sure your dryer is plugged into an outlet that can handle its electrical needs
• Turn off your dryer when you leave the home – do not let it run while you are gone
• Keep your dryer area clean and free of combustible materials (boxes, clothes, garbage, old lint, etc.)

CAMPING/FIREWORKS

• Set up your campfire downwind from tents, and far enough away to prevent sparks from igniting combustibles
• Use tents that are flame retardant
• Do not use liquid filled lanterns or heaters inside the tent – battery powered lights are best
• Store fire starters away from tents and only use dry kindling for fires
• ALWAYS extinguish fires when leaving the area or going to bed

Be aware that fireworks can cause burns, lacerations, amputations and blindness

EXTENSION CORDS/ ELECTRICAL

• Extension cords are for temporary use, not long term. Consider a surge protector for prolonged needs
• Make sure all cords are in good condition and not frayed or cut
• Do not overload extension cords. Read the ratings label to see specifications.
• Do not place cords where they can be rubbed by furniture or doors
• Always check the wattage in light bulbs to make sure you are using the correct bulbs in light fixtures to prevent overheating
• Never use a larger size fuse or circuit breakers, they can be a significant fire hazard

Check outlets and light switches for heat; if they are unusually hot, you may have a problem with your wiring, call a licensed electrician to check as soon as possible

CHILDREN

• Teach your children the dangers of playing with lighters and matches and to tell an adult if they find matches or lighters or if they see another child playing with fire

Be aware that children who start fires may be reaching out, they may be in a crisis situation. If you suspect that a child you know may be starting fires, call your local fire department, school or counseling agency to get help for the child as soon as possible.