Unfortunately, reports of home fire incidents are a common

occurrence during the winter season. A home fire can be

devastating to households who may not only experience

property damage, but also the loss of sentimental,

irreplaceable belongings.

To avoid being left out in the cold by a home fire, the

American Red Cross strongly advises homeowners to:

1. Follow the three feet rule. Heating equipment is one of the

leading causes of home fire deaths. Keep children, pets and

anything flammable at least three feet away from heating

equipment. Turn off portable space heaters when you leave

the room and when you go to sleep.

2. Use gas wisely. Four percent of Americans admit to having

used a gas stove to heat their home. Never use a cooking

range or oven to heat your home.

3. Use flashlights, not candles. Use battery operated

flashlights or lanterns instead of candles during power

outages.

4. Sound the alarm. Install smoke alarms on every level of

your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test

smoke alarms once a month. If they’re not working, change

the batteries and test again.

5. Plan and practice. Ensure that all household members

know two ways to escape from every room of your home.

Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside in case of

fire. Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year

and at different times of the day.

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Source: The American Red Cross

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