According to the U.S. Fire Administration, residential structure fires caused nearly $7 Billion in property damage in 2005. The leading factors contributing to accidental fires include equipment left unattended, electrical short circuits and cigarettes. In over 50% of these instances, no smoke alarm was present in the home. Many of these home fires could have been prevented by taking simple precautions. The following are some tips you can use to help keep your family and home safe.

1. Install at least one smoke detector on every level of your home and in every area where people sleep.
2. Make sure you have at least one multipurpose dry chemical fire extinguisher on every floor of your home, especially near the kitchen and laundry room.
3. Avoid smoking in bed. Don’t empty ashtrays into the trash shortly after smoking.
4. If you see flames in your oven, keep the door closed and turn the oven off. If a stovetop pan catches fire, cover it and turn off the heat source.
5. When replacing light bulbs, use bulbs with equal or lower wattage. Beware of halogen lights – they burn hotter than regular bulbs and are more prone to starting fires.
6. Use a screen in front of your fireplace to protect your home from popping embers.
7. Never leave candles burning unattended.

Top Four rooms where fires begin:

• Bedroom 13.1%
• Laundry Room 4.8%
• Living Room 7.0%
• Cooking area / Kitchen 39.6%

In case of a fire –

1. Keep low to the ground – heat and smoke rise.
2. Crawl on your hands and knees to get out of the house.
3. Before opening any doors, check the door’s temperature. If the door is warm, use an alternative exit out of the room.
4. Close any windows before opening a door, and close all doors behind you as you leave in order to slow the spread of fire.
5. Get out of the house. Follow your escape plan.
6. If your clothes catch fire, drop to the ground and roll until the fire is extinguished.

• Create a fire evacuation plan for your family. Practice a fire drill at least once a year.
• Test smoke detectors and their batteries at least once a month. Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.
• Inspect your fire extinguisher periodically to see if it needs to be recharged or replaced.
• Never leave an unsupervised space heater on. Keep all space heaters away from flammable materials, such as furniture, draperies and rugs.
• Have your fireplace inspected and your chimney cleaned every year.
• Clean the lint from your dryer hose periodically. Fires have been known to start from lint overheating.
• Don’t dress your lamps with fabric, especially halogen lamps.

Your Warren Gray Agency staff has the experience and commitment it takes to help you protect your home and family.