Habersham County, Georgia: Fire

Following these simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates dramatically

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and more than 25,000 are injured. Many of them might be alive today if they had only had the information they needed to avoid a disaster. Following simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates dramatically.

The tips provided here are a summary of life-saving measures on a variety of fire-related subjects from alternative heating to church arson to winter fire safety. For in-depth information on a wide range of fire safety subjects, please CLICK HERE to visit our Fire Safety Page.

Alternative Heating Safety

Allow your heater to cool before refueling and only refuel outdoors.
Fill your heater with only crystal clear, K-1 kerosene, not gasoline or camp stove fuel both explode easily.
Keep the fire in the fireplace by making sure you have a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
Clean your chimney regularly chimney tar build-up can ignite your chimney, roof and the whole house.
Space heaters need space. Keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater.
When buying a space heater, look for a control feature that automatically shuts off the power if the heater falls over.
Carefully follow manufacturers' installation and maintenance instructions.
For wood stove fuel use only seasoned wood, not green wood, artificial logs or trash.
In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and have an escape plan already worked out.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

Appliance Safety

Regularly inspect your extension cords for fraying and never use an extension cord as permanent wiring.
Instead of a simple extension cord, get a UL-approved unit with built-in circuit breakers.
Routinely check your wiring. Look for outlets that don't work, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
Never overload outlets or extension cords.
Immediately repair appliances or lamps that sputter or spark.
Keep appliances away from wet areas in the kitchen, bathroom, basement and garage.
If an appliance has a three-prong plug, never force it into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
Don't let children play near electrical space heaters. Keep clothes, curtains and other flammable items at least three feet away from heaters.
In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and have an escape plan already worked out.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

Careless Smoking

Never smoke in bed. Replace mattresses made prior to the 1973 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard.
Don't put ashtrays on the arms of sofas or chairs.
Use large ashtrays with wide lips. While smaller ashtrays may be more attractive, they are not safe. Cigarettes can roll off the edge, and ashes can easily be blown away.
Empty ashtrays into the toilet or an airtight metal container. Warm ashes dumped in waste cans can smolder for hours, then ignite.
Don't leave cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended.
Put out all smoking materials before you walk away.
If you begin to feel drowsy while watching television or reading, extinguish your cigarette or cigar.
Close a matchbook before striking and hold it away from your body. Set your cigarette lighter on "low" flame to prevent burns.
If friends or relatives who smoke have visited, be sure to check on the floor and around chair cushions for ashes that may have been dropped accidentally.
In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and have an escape plan already worked out.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

Children & Fire

Keep matches, lighters and other ignitables in a secured drawer or cabinet out of the reach of children.
Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters.
Always dress children in pajamas that meet federal flammability standards. Avoid dressing children for sleep in loose-fitting 100 percent cotton garments, such as oversized T-shirts.
Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly and call for help from another location.
Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the house and stay out.
Teach children a signal to alert the rest of the family to get out if they hear a smoke alarm.
Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground, and roll if clothes catch fire.
Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside.
Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.
Help your child test every smoke alarm each month and replace its batteries at least once a year.
Replace mattresses made prior to the 1973 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard.
Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches, evidence your child may be playing with fire.

Cooking Fires

Never leave cooking unattended. A serious fire can start in just seconds.
Always wear short, tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.
Turn pot handles inward to avoid spills. Always use a potholder when reaching for handles.
Keep towels, pot holders and curtains away from flames and hot surfaces.
Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup which can ignite.
If a fire breaks out while cooking, put a lid on the pan to smother it. You may also use baking soda. Never throw water on a grease fire.
Heat oil gradually to avoid burns from spattering grease. Use extra caution when preparing deep-fried foods.
Place a rubber mat on the floor in front of your stove to give you added traction in case liquids or grease spill.
Never use the range or oven to heat your home. In addition to being a fire hazard, toxic fumes may leak into your home.
Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure all other appliances are turned off.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month, and change them once a year.

Dormitory And Housing Safety

Provide students with a program for fire safety and prevention.
Teach students how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system or other local emergency numbers.
Install smoke alarms in every dorm room and every level of housing facilities.
Maintain and regularly test smoke alarm systems.
Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester.
Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards. Ask your local fire department for assistance.
Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly.
Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students.
Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously.
Make sure electrical outlets are not overloaded and make sure extension cords are used properly.
Properly maintain heating and cooking appliances.

Escape Planning

Make sure everyone in your family knows two routes to escape from bedrooms.
Buy a collapsible ladder for escape from upper story windows.
Keep the fire department's number by the phone.
Have a flashlight by your bed, to help you see and a whistle to alert your family.
Practice feeling your way out of the house with your eyes closed.
Never open doors that are hot to the touch.
Teach your family to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes catch fire.
Designate a meeting place outside and take attendance.
Remember to escape first, then notify the fire department.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

Holiday Fire Safety

Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks.
Never put holiday tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove.
When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or have it picked up by a community pick-up service.
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wire, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.
Only use UL approved lighting.
Do not overload outlets. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet.
Do not leave lit holiday lights unattended.
Never leave fireplaces or space heaters unattended.
Avoid using lit candles. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they can not be easily knocked down.
Never leave the house with candles burning.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

Manufactured Home Safety

Have a minimum of two smoke alarms installed in your home regardless of sleeping space arrangements.
Install smoke alarms in accordance with smoke alarm manufacturer guidelines. Test your smoke alarms once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year.
Maintain your home heating system by having it serviced at least once a year by a professional.
Do not store combustibles or flammables near heat sources.
Never overload outlets, extension cords or electrical circuits. If the circuit breaker trips or fuses blow, immediately call a licensed electrician to check your system.
Have an escape plan and practice it with your family.
Space heaters need their space. Do not place portable space heaters close to drapes, clothing or other combustible materials.
Install skirting material to keep leaves and other debris and combustible items from blowing under your manufactured home.
When considering a new home, ask if residential sprinklers are available as an option.
Develop a home fire escape plan and practice it with your family.
If there is a fire - get out immediately, go to a neighbor's and call the emergency phone number in your area.

Preventing Arson In Your Community

Arson is a serious crime. It injures and kills people, destroys property and destabilizes neighborhoods. Ask law enforcement and fire authorities to identify buildings at risk for arson.
Monitor run-down and vacant buildings.
Report suspicious activity.
Keep boxes, trash, wood and other combustibles away from buildings.
In the case of arson, every second counts. Make sure everyone in your family knows two ways to escape from the home. Escape first, then notify the fire department using the 911 system or the local emergency number in your area.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and test the batteries every month.
Never open doors that are hot to the touch.
Practice feeling your way out of your home with your eyes closed.

Preventing Bedroom Fires

Never smoke in bed.
Replace all mattresses made before the 1973 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard. Mattresses made since then are required by law to be safer.
Keep lighters, matches and other ignitables in a secured drawer or cabinet out of reach of children. Children are one of the highest risk groups for death in residential fires.
Keep lit candles away from bedding, curtains, papers and anything else that can ignite easily.
Do not run electrical cords under your bed or trap them against a wall where heat can build up. And avoid overloading extension cords.
Take extra care when using portable heaters. Keep bedding, clothes, curtains and other flammable items at least three feet away from space heaters.
Only use lab-approved electric blankets and warmers. Check to make sure the cords are not frayed.
Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two escape routes from their bedrooms, and practice these often.
In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and use the escape plan you have worked out. Get out and stay out.
Install at least one working smoke alarm on each level of your home and in halls outside bedrooms. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

Preventing Church Arson In Your Community

Illuminate the church exterior and entrances. Use motion-activated lighting near doors and windows.
Proper landscaping can help create a crime-free environment. Keep shrubbery and trees trimmed so the building can be observed by passing patrols.
Use adequate locks and security devices on doors and windows.
Communicate with law enforcement and fire officials about concerns regarding arson and other crimes.
Appoint a person from the church to work as a liaison with these authorities.
Promote a neighborhood arson and crime watch to report suspicious activity.
Keep church leaders and members informed of concerns and crime prevention activities.
Keep boxes, trash, wood and other combustibles away from the building.
Install smoke alarms on every level of the building and test the batteries once a month. Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year.

Rural Fire Safety

Use fire-resistant and protective roofing and materials like stone, brick and metal to protect your home. Avoid using wood materials that offer the least fire protection.
Let your landscape defend your property. Create defensible space by thinning trees and brush within 30 feet around your home.
Landscape your property with fire resistant plants and vegetation to prevent fire from spreading quickly.
Stack firewood at least 30 feet away from your home and other structures.
Store flammable materials, liquids and solvents in metal containers outside the home, at least 30 feet away from structures and wooden fences.
Burning yard waste is a fire hazard. Check with your local fire department on a non-emergency number for fire permit requirements and restricted burning times.
Have your chimney inspected and cleaned regularly by a certified specialist.
Provide emergency vehicle access with properly constructed driveways and roadways, at least 12 feet wide with adequate turnaround space.
Post home address signs that are clearly visible from the road.
Develop and practice fire escape and evacuation plans with your family.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home.
Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a year. Consider installing the new long- life smoke alarms.

Seniors And Fire

The kitchen is a high danger zone for fire, so be extra cautious when cooking.
Remember not to leave food unattended on the stove.
Don't use the oven to heat your home. In addition to being a fire hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes.
Double-check the kitchen to be sure the oven and all appliances are turned off before going to bed.
Don't wear loose clothes or have curtains hanging near a hot stove.
Never smoke in bed. Replace mattresses made prior to the 1973 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard.
Keep flammable materials at least three feet away from your heater.
Don't overload electrical outlets with several appliances.
In case of a fire, stay low to the ground, beneath the smoke, and have an escape plan already worked out.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Check the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

Smoke Alarms

Place a smoke alarm on each level of your home and in all outside bedrooms.
Check smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button. If you cannot reach the button easily, use a broom handle.
Change the batteries in your alarms twice a year - perhaps when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do - leave the building immediately by crawling under the smoke when they hear it sound.
If cooking smoke sets off the alarm, do not disable it. Turn on the range fan, open a window or wave a towel near the alarm.
Do not remove the batteries to put in other appliances such as personal stereos or games.
Smoke alarms wear out over time. Replace yours if it is 10 years old or more.
Consider buying a lithium battery-powered smoke alarm which will operate for 10 years and is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or opened.

Winter Fires

Make sure your space heaters have an emergency shut off in case they tip over. ONLY use the fuel recommended by the manufacturer.
Never refill a space heater while it is operating or still hot. Refuel outside, away from the house.
Make sure wood stoves are properly installed, away from combustible surfaces, have the proper floor support and adequate ventilation.
Never use flammable liquids (such as gasoline) to start or accelerate fire.
Have your furnace and chimney professionally inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. Chimney tar build-up is a common cause of chimney fires.
Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby carpets or furniture.
Never thaw frozen pipes with a blow torch or other open flame. Use hot water or a UL listed device such as a hand held dryer.
Dispose of hot ashes in metal containers placed away from the house.
Don't use the oven to heat your home. In addition to being a fire hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes.
If there is a fire hydrant near your home, keep it clear of snow for easy access.
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

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