Home Fire Prevention Plan

A comprehensive guide to protecting your household

1. Fire Prevention by Area

Kitchen — Leading Cause of House Fires

Cooking fires are the #1 cause of residential fires. Follow these precautions:

• Never leave the stovetop unattended while cooking
• Keep flammables (towels, paper, curtains) at least 3 feet from the stove
• Turn pot handles inward to prevent accidental spills
• Clean grease buildup from the stovetop, oven, and range hood regularly
• Unplug small appliances (toaster, coffee maker) when not in use
• Never use extension cords for stoves or high-draw appliances

Electrical Hazards

• Do not overload outlets or power strips
• Use surge protectors for electronics
• Have home wiring professionally inspected every 10 years
• Replace flickering lights or outlets that spark immediately
• Charge devices on hard, flat surfaces — never on beds or sofas
• Avoid charging devices overnight or unattended for extended periods
• Use only manufacturer-approved chargers and cables
• Never daisy-chain multiple power strips together

Heating Equipment

• Keep a 3-foot clear zone around all portable space heaters
• Never dry clothes on or near radiators or heaters
• Clean the dryer lint trap before every single cycle
• Have your furnace or HVAC system serviced annually
• Inspect and clean the dryer exhaust duct annually

Open Flames & Other Sources

• Extinguish all candles before leaving a room or going to sleep
• Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach
• Keep the fireplace screen closed when in use
• Dispose of fireplace ash in a metal container with a lid
• Keep grills at least 10 feet away from the house
• Never leave a grill unattended while in use

2. Detection & Equipment

Smoke Alarms

• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home
• Place alarms inside every bedroom and outside each sleeping area
• Test all smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button
• Replace batteries at least once a year (or use 10-year sealed-battery alarms)
• Replace smoke alarm units entirely every 10 years
• Never disable an alarm — address the cause of nuisance alarms instead

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Install CO detectors near all sleeping areas
• Place detectors on each level of the home
• Test monthly and replace batteries annually alongside smoke alarms

Fire Extinguishers

• Keep at minimum one ABC-rated extinguisher in the kitchen
• Consider additional extinguishers in the garage and workshop
• Have extinguishers professionally inspected annually
• Know how to use the PASS method before a fire occurs (see Section 4)

3. Household Escape Plan

Building Your Plan

1. Draw a floor plan of your home, marking all doors and windows
2. Identify two ways out of every room (primary + one alternate)
3. Designate a meeting spot outside: a mailbox, tree, or neighbor’s driveway
4. Assign a helper for each child, elderly, or mobility-impaired household member
5. Post the escape plan in a visible location that all members can reference
6. Practice the drill at least twice a year, including at night

During Evacuation

• Alert everyone immediately by yelling ‘Fire!’
• Feel every door with the back of your hand before opening — if hot, use an alternate exit
• Stay low to the floor, where smoke and heat are less dense
• Close doors behind you as you exit to slow the fire spread
• Never use an elevator — use stairs only
• Do not stop to collect belongings

Meeting Point Rules

• Go directly to the designated meeting spot — no exceptions
• Account for all household members and pets
• Call 911 from outside — never from inside the building
• Never re-enter a burning building for any reason
• Wait for firefighters to give the all-clear before approaching

4. If a Fire Breaks Out

Immediate Response Steps

7. Yell ‘Fire!’ loudly to alert all household members
8. Activate the nearest smoke alarm if it has not triggered
9. Evacuate — stay low, close doors behind you
10. Call 911 once you are safely outside
11. Go to your designated meeting point
12. Account for all household members
13. Never go back inside — wait for firefighters

Using a Fire Extinguisher (PASS Method)

Only attempt to fight a small, contained fire if you have a clear exit path and the fire is smaller than you are. If in doubt, evacuate.

P — Pull	Pull the safety pin from the extinguisher handle
A — Aim	Aim the nozzle low, at the base of the fire
S — Squeeze	Squeeze the handle slowly and evenly
S — Sweep	Sweep side to side at the base of the flames until extinguished

5. Emergency Contacts

Emergency Services	911
Local Fire Department	_______________________________
Family Out-of-Area Contact	_______________________________
Neighbor Contact	_______________________________
Utility Gas Company	_______________________________
Insurance Policy #	_______________________________

6. Maintenance Schedule

Monthly

• Test all smoke alarms
• Test all CO detectors
• Verify fire extinguisher pressure gauge is in the green zone

Annually

• Replace smoke alarm and CO detector batteries
• Have fire extinguisher professionally inspected
• Service furnace and HVAC system
• Clean dryer exhaust duct
• Clean chimney and fireplace (if applicable)
• Practice home fire escape drill
• Review and update emergency contacts

Every 10 Years

• Replace all smoke alarm units
• Have home electrical wiring inspected by a licensed electrician

Prepared for: _______________________________ Date: _______________