Fire Prevention

Seasonal Fire Prevention Tips

Summer

  • Grilling
    • 7 out of 10 adults have a grill or smoker, meaning there is an increased risk in home fires once the weather gets warmer and grills start cooking. (NFPA Grilling Safety)
    • 18% of all grill fires occur in July, followed by June, May, and August
    • Safety Tips:
      • Make sure your grill is away from your home and deck railings. 
      • When starting your grill, make sure the lid is open prior to turning it on. Then, turn on the propane tank and turn on the knobs of the grill burner. After this, push the ignition button (if you have one).
      • If the grill doesn’t ignite, wait at least 5 minutes to let the gas dissipate before igniting the grill again.
      • To turn off the grill safely, turn off the propane tank FIRST before turning off the grill burners. This prevents excess gas from escaping.
  • Fireworks
    • Fireworks can be very dangerous, especially for children and teens, when users do not understand the risks involved with consumer fireworks. 
    • In 2018, fireworks started roughly 19,500 fires in the United States. (NFPA Fireworks)
    • Safety Tips:
      • Leave fireworks to the professionals. 
      • Consider safer alternatives like glow sticks, outdoor movies, or red, white & blue silly string.

Fall

  • Halloween
    • With all the extra decorations, costumes, and chaos Halloween can bring comes added fire risks that can be easily avoided. 
    • From 2014-2018, roughly 770 home fires began with decorations per year (NFPA Halloween).
    • Safety Tips:
      • Keep decorations far away from open flames.
      • Dried flowers, stalks, and cornstarch catch fire very easily.
      • Use battery-operated candle sticks or glow sticks and jack-o-lanterns.
      • Stay away from costumes with long trailing fabric.
      • Make sure your children stay away from open flames, including those in jack-o-lanterns.
  • Thanksgiving
    • Thanksgiving is the peak day for fires from home cooking with more than 3 times the daily average. 
    • In 2019, US fire departments estimated roughly 1,900 home fires on Thanksgiving. (NFPA Thanksgiving
    • Safety Tips:
      • Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can watch the food.
      • Stay in the home when cooking turkey and check it occasionally.
      • Keep children away from the stove, hot foods and liquids, and knives.
      • Make sure all electric cords from appliances are out of reach of children. 
      • Keep matches and lighters away from children.
      • Never leave kids alone in a room with a lit candle.
      • Keep your floors clean so you do not trip.
      • Make sure all smoke alarms are working