Home Fires
Home fires are the most common and most preventable disaster. Learn more about what to do and how to stay safe.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
This action is designed to be used with the Get Prepared Steps, be sure to complete Steps 1-5!
1Step 1: Learn about home fires
What causes home fires?
The number one cause of home fires and fire injuries is cooking with the majority of cooking fires starting with a range or stove. Heating fires are the second most cause, while smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths. The majority of fires occur in homes that do not have working smoke detectors. For all of these causes, there are clear and effective steps that can be taken to lessen your risk of a home fire.
2Step 2: Add these items to your plan
Add these items to your plan in Step 3. Make a plan.
-
Make sure all members of your household, including children, know what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
-
Ensure everyone in your home knows two ways to escape from every room of your home.
-
Practice escaping from your home with everyone in your household at least twice a year. It’s also useful to practice your escape route in the dark.
-
Check all windows that could be potential escape routes to make sure they easily open and that you would be able to take out window screens quickly.
-
Stop, drop, and roll: Teach everyone in your household that if their clothes should catch on fire, they should stop, drop, and roll — and practice!
-
Stay safe when using non-electric fuel sources. Generators, camp stoves or charcoal grills should only be used outdoors at least 20 feet away from your home and any windows.
-
Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
3Step 3: Add these items to your household preparation
Add these items to your household preparation in Step 4. Resilience for Homeowners/Renters.
-
Make sure you’ve installed smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside every sleeping area, as well as a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside of each sleeping area. Don’t take the batteries out if they go off when you’re cooking — turn the stove fan on and open the doors and windows. You might forget to put them back in! (Consider troubleshooting the source — Maybe you need to add a drip pan in the oven? Lower heat on the grill?)
-
Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms monthly to ensure they are functioning properly. Be sure to have extra batteries at home in case you need to replace them in any of your detectors.
-
Keep any items that could potentially catch on fire at least 3 feet away from anything that gets hot, including baseboards and space heaters. Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
-
Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
-
If anyone in your household smokes, be sure that they smoke outside, use fire-safe cigarettes, and never smoke in bed, when tired or on medication, or if anyone in your home uses oxygen. Smokers should also use deep, sturdy ashtrays and douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before throwing them away.
-
Make sure your house number is easily readable from the street, even at night.
-
Make sure all of your home heating sources are clean and in working order.
-
Have an electrician check the electrical wiring in your home. Fix or replace any damaged or frayed extension cords, exposed wires, or loose plugs. Make sure your home has no exposed wiring and that there is no wiring under rugs, attached by nails, or in high traffic areas. Be sure all electrical outlets have cover plates.
-
Avoid overloading outlets or extension cords.
-
If you use any flammable household chemicals, keep rags used to apply these chemicals in metal containers with tight-fitting lids.
-
Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your residence.
4Step 4: Learn what to do during a home fire
If a home fire happens at your home, don’t panic! You’ve already taken many steps to prepare. Take a deep breath. You’ve got this.
Evacuate! If you suspect or detect a fire in your home, or if your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm starts going off:
-
Remember your planned evacuation routes from the room you are in and assess the safest path for you to get out of the room and your home.
-
Crawl low to the ground toward your exit, staying under any smoke.
-
Before opening any doors, feel the doorknob and door. If you notice they are hot or if you see any smoke seeping in around the door, leave the door closed and choose your alternative exit option. If you do open a door, be prepared to close it quickly if you see smoke or fire.
Once you have gotten out of the building:
-
Call 911 as soon as possible. Tell the emergency operator where you are located as well as if there are any people in your household who are trapped inside the building.
-
Account for everyone in your household. Check to make sure everyone is out of the building, including pets
-
If someone is missing, identify where in the house they would likely be. Look to windows to see if anyone missing may be signaling their location at the window.
-
Check in with each person who has escaped from the building to see if anyone has any injuries or burns.
If you can’t get out:
-
Make sure all doors and vents are closed. Cover spaces around doors with cloth to keep smoke out.
-
Call 911 to reach your fire department. Tell them exactly where you are. You can signal for help by using a light colored cloth or flashlight at the window in the room you are in.
If your clothes catch on fire:
-
Stop, drop, and roll: Stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands. Roll over, back and forth until the fire is out. If you aren’t able to stop, drop, and roll, try to smother the flames with a blanket or towel.
-
If you get burned, apply cool water to the burn immediately, continuing for 3 to 5 minutes. Then cover the area with a clean, dry cloth.
-
Seek medical help as soon as possible
Remember:
-
Safety first: Getting yourself and your loved ones to a safe spot during a disaster is most important. Everything else is secondary.
-
Check in: Once you’re safe, check in with family and any other emergency contacts.
5Step 5: Learn what to do right after a home fire
After evacuating and ensuring everyone in your household is safe, remember it’s normal to feel anxiety or grief, so take care of yourself and your loved ones. The most important thing is that you and your loved ones are safe, and you’ve done what you could to lower your risks and protect your home.
Basic Necessities:
-
Shelter: If your home isn’t safe or habitable and you can’t stay with neighbors or friends, find a local shelter near you. You can:
-
text SHELTER and your zip code to 4FEMA (43362), e.g. SHELTER 01234.
-
Search on the FEMA app or Red Cross app for open shelters.
-
In the FEMA app, click “Disaster Resources” → “Shelters” → “Map View”
-
In the Red Cross app, click the Maps icon on the bottom right.
-
-
-
Food & Water: If you don’t have access to food and water, or if you’re not certain your supplies are safe to consume, get additional supplies or find a local food bank by contacting a shelter or through feedingamerica.org
-
First aid: If anyone is seriously or injured, call 911 or go to the hospital. If you are not sure, err on the side of caution and get medical help. If the injury is minor, administer first aid if you are trained and contact your healthcare provider for instructions.
Once you know everyone is safe:
-
Check with the fire department to make sure it’s safe to enter your home.
-
Ask the fire department to make sure your utilities are either safe to use or disconnected before they leave. Do not attempt to reconnect any utilities yourself.
-
Watch out for any structural damage caused by the fire.
Read to Step 5. Recovery After a Disaster for important information on safe cleanup, support resources and handling insurance after a home fire. Be sure to take photos for insurance before you clean!