10 Ways to Prepare for a Home Fire

Home maintenance is a critical component on how to prevent fires at home. There are simple things that everyone can do to clean and maintain home systems and appliances.

1. Clean dryer vents
Clothes dryers and their gathering of lint are a prime place for fires to start. You can reduce your chances of a fire by cleaning the dryer vents. Buy a dryer vent brush from a hardware store and sweep the dryer screen and tube. You should pull the dryer away from the wall and vacuum any lint that has gathered behind the dryer as well. Doing so will not only decrease your chances of a fire but can also improve the energy efficiency of your dryer.

2. Clean fan screens of kitchen hood vent
Andrew Wynn, director at Hippo Home Care, offered advice on how to prevent some kitchen fires. “A clean fan screen above your kitchen stove can help prevent the potential for grease fires, a necessity for your home and family’s safety,” he told Mom.com. “A clogged filter can cause many other negative effects in the home, like the buildup of smoke and grease particles. A simple solution of dish soap and water with a small scrub should do the trick. Pro tip: if your filters are metal, you can throw them in your dishwasher.”

3. Remove clutter around gas appliances
The spark ignited when ignitors kick in with gas water heaters and furnaces are a place where a fire can start. You can place a protective cover over the ignitor box and remove anything around the base of the unit. This includes lint, clothing, and household goods. Create a barrier of empty space around the appliance.

Aside from cleaning up potential hot spots for fires in the home, you should put together a plan that will provide early alerts for a fire and help you get everyone out safely.

Shelly Peel is a mom who experienced a house fire in 2016 in the middle of the night and recommends checking the fire rating of garage doors. “The fire started in our garage, which was attached to our house. The fire marshal told us it would have been a ‘very different outcome’ if we didn’t have a fire-rated door,” Peel told Mom.com.

4. Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors save lives with early warnings. There should be a smoke alarm in each bedroom just over the door. Place one in the hallway to the bedrooms and in the main living areas of the home such as the family room. If you have a basement, install a smoke alarm there too. Smoke alarms should be mounted high on or near the ceiling and checked twice a year for proper function (most people set a reminder with daylight savings time changes). Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed at least five feet above the floor or up to the ceiling.

5. Maintain fire extinguishers
Most people don’t realize that fire extinguishers have an expiration date. Make sure to check this date annually and make sure your extinguisher will perform properly if needed. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that houses have at least one extinguisher per floor. Key places to have a fire extinguisher include the kitchen, master bedroom, and garage. Don’t store extinguishers near stoves, furnaces, or other hazards but keep them nearby and easily accessible.

6. Practice home fire drills
A home fire drill is something everyone in the family should participate in. Write out a plan that shows the house rooms and escape routes. Teach children how to touch a door to feel how hot it is before grabbing a burning doorknob. Remind everyone to stay low to the ground when exiting to keep their head out of thick smoke when possible and practice a “stop, drop, and roll” in case you are on fire. Hold a practice drill with everyone in their rooms, giving the household minutes to get out and get to the designated meeting spot outside.

Recent wildfires in California have consumed more than 9,200 structures. The threat of wildfires is real and can impact entire communities. Being prepared could mean the difference between life and death.

7. Have an evacuation bag packed
Have an emergency bag packed and ready to go if you need to evacuate quickly. Inside the bag should be emergency food and water, a first aid kit, face masks, a change of clothes, and basic toiletries. It should also have some cash in small bills, emergency phone numbers, and a copy of important documents such as the house deed and insurance details. Realize that because of COVID-19, evacuation shelters may have added restrictions and guidelines.

8. Establish a safe meeting location
Wildfires can happen at any time, day or night. This means members of the household may be at work or school if an evacuation is ordered. Just like an isolated home fire has a meeting spot outside the home, your family should have a central place to meet in the community that is safely out of harm’s way. Realize that cell phones may be unreliable in times of natural disasters; try communicating via text or notifying friends and family via platforms such as Facebook where they can see if you mark yourself safe from the fire.

9. Be prepared to evacuate animals quickly
Have a central place where you keep your pets’ leashes and carriers. If it isn’t safe for you to remain at your home, it isn’t safe for your cats, dogs, and other pets. Be prepared to quickly gather them and put them in the car to leave. Your evacuation bag should have vet contact information as well as extra food and water for your animals.

10. Utilize technology to keep you informed
Apps such as Ready for Wildfire help you know where fires are, get push alerts based on your location with critical lifesaving updates, and locate shelters if needed. The American Red Cross also has an Emergency app that helps you track various emergency scenarios including wildfire progress. It will help you prepare, find a shelter, or get aid where needed.