Tips to Promote Fire Safety at Home and in Your Community

Fire protection is a collective duty of household occupants and community inhabitants, including campers and employees at the workplace.

Cooking has been identified as the leading cause of home and nonresidential fires. At the same time, almost 85 percent of wildfires have also been traced to human activities such as campfires left unattended, cigarettes, and arson. 

A 2023 report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated that over 3,700 civilians died from the 1.5 million fire incidents responded to by local fire departments.

Meanwhile, Alaska and Mississippi residents have the highest risk of dying in a fire while the lowest risk is recorded among people living in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Utah.

Irrespective of where you stay, the best way to prevent fatalities, injuries, and loss of property from fire incidents is to prevent it from ever happening in the first place. 

Firefighting is not the sole job of the firefighters. Everyone, including children, should have basic knowledge of fire safety.

Effective collaboration between communities and firefighters to combat fire damage

Firefighters play a significant role in ensuring their community is safe from fire damage. While these first responders do their best to safeguard lives and properties in case of a fire incident, there is still a probability of fatalities and injuries. 

This is why most firefighter departments now collaborate with their local community to educate them on fire prevention and control.

These brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect others from fires and other emergencies. This is why it is not unusual for communities to express their gratitude with firefighter awards.

The awards can be presented to a brave firefighter and/or the entire department.

Home fire safety tips

The earlier a fire is discovered, the higher the chance of it being curtailed. Below are some fire safety tips you can teach your household members:

1. Install smoke alarms

Fire can start anytime. Installing a smoke alarm can help detect it faster and react appropriately.

Smoke alarms are designed to sense smoke and other small particles in the air as an indicator of fire.

Experts recommend installing smoke alarms on every level of your home both outside each sleeping area and in each sleeping area.

For optimal performance test them at once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Replace alarms that are older than 10 years.

2. Train your children about fire safety

Teach your children what a smoke detector sounds like and what to do when they hear the sound. 

Educate your kids to always stay at least three feet away from the stove and other areas where hot food or drink is prepared. 

Inform them to always get out and stay out in case of fire and never to enter a building that is on fire even if other family members or pets are inside. They should instead call the appropriate emergency number.

3. Inform and educate household members on ways to escape

Familiarize your household members with at least two ways to escape from every room in the house. These are usually unobstructed exits – the door and window.

Also, indicate a spot to meet outside. This is important so that you will be able to identify if there is still anyone inside.

The entire household should practice the escape plan at least twice a year.

4. Establish an emergency communication plan

Strategize a family emergency communications plan and make sure everyone knows who to call if they are stuck or can’t find one another. 

Teach your children how to dial the appropriate emergency number in your area to seek help.

5. Teach everyone how to Stop, Drop, and Roll

Teach everybody how to Stop, Drop, and Roll if their clothes should catch fire. This technique might be needed for even the minute fire incident.

For instance, your loose sleeve can catch fire if you are too close to a hot stove or when working with flammable liquid.

Outdoor fire safety tips

Most outdoor fires are caused by unintentional actions, therefore to save your household and community from such incidents, it is vital to keep fire safety in mind. Below are some tips recommended by the U.S Fire Administration:

Grill fire safety

• Ensure the gas grill is open before lighting
• Do not walk away from it once lit
• Observe a 3-feet safe zone away from the pit to ensure kids' and pets' safety
• Place grill away from siding and deck railings
• Do not place the grill under eaves and overhanging branches

Backyard fire pit safety

• Place the fire pit at least three feet away from the house and any flammable thing
• Use a metal screen over wood-burning fires to keep sparks from floating out. 
• Always double-check to confirm the fire is well put out before leaving the yard

Campfire safety

• Build campfires at least 25 feet away from tents, shrubs, and anything that can burn
• Keep matches and lighters out of children’s sight and reach
• Avoid dropping a cigarette butt without first properly putting out its light