FIRE PREVENTION
Every year, thousands of
Americans, many of them
children, die or are disfigured for
Your home is your castle. And,
preparing today could help keep
your dreams from going up in
smoke.
life from fires in their own homes.
By taking precautions, you can
help prevent this tragedy from happening
to you and those you love.
Smoke Detectors
� Install smoke detectors in all
bedrooms and hallways of
your home. Be sure all levels
of your home are covered.
� In places where smoke detectors
are not practical (i.e.,
kitchen), HEAT DETECTORS
can be used. These detect
rapid changes in room
temperature, rather than the
presence of smoke particles
or gas.
� Keep your smoke detectors
maintained, cleaning them
periodically. Remember to
change the batteries when
they are low (at least once a
year).
� MONITORED smoke detectors
are the best, since they
can send a fire signal to a
central monitoring station and
alert the authorities immediately.
� TEST your smoke detectors at
least once a month. Repair
them or replace them immediately
if they are not working.
Fire Extinguishers
Locate fire extinguishers
throughout your home, so that
they are readily available. It's an
especially good idea to have one
in the kitchen, garage and
anywhere else a fire is most likely
to start (i.e., smoker's bedroom).
There are FOUR TYPES of fire extinguishers:
� TYPE A -- for wood, paper
and fabric fires.
� TYPE B -- to extinguish
grease, oil, gasoline,
petroleum and other flammable
liquid fires.
� TYPE C -- for extinguishing
electrical fires.
� TYPE ABC -- for all three
types of fires. This type is a little
more expensive, but worth
it.
Since fire extinguishers are
designed to help prevent small
fires from becoming big ones,
DON'T RISK YOUR SAFETY trying
to extinguish a large fire on your
own. If you are ever faced with
the choice of putting out a fire or
escaping, opt for safety.
General Safety Tips
� Make sure fireplaces are completely
screened. Keep the
chimney cleaned to prevent
smoking and ash build-up.
� Don't go to bed expecting a
fire in the fireplace to "burn
out."
� Don't leave candles burning
unattended.
� Don't smoke in bed. Cigarettes
cause close to one-third
of all multiple-death home fires.
� Be sure all electrical appliances
are UL-listed.
� Never enter an area with a
lighted match or cigarette if
you smell gas from a pipe,
heater or stove. The smallest
spark or flame could ignite
gas in the air and cause an explosion.
� Keep electric blankets unplugged
and stored flat when
not in use.
Make sure fireplaces are completely
screened. Keep the chimney
cleaned to prevent smoking and
ash build-up.
� Don't leave a heating pad on
for more than 30 minutes.
Never fall asleep with it on.
Set an alarm clock to awaken
you in 30 minutes if necessary.
� Keep down the number of
plugs in one outlet. Have
broken plugs or cords professionally
repaired or replaced.
Don't try to mask problems
with electrical tape.
Never leave a barbeque left unattended.
Dispose of the cool ashes
in a lidded metal container.
� Keep personal grooming appliances
(i.e., hair dryers, curling
irons, electric razors)
away from combustibles while
in use. Disconnect after use.
Never fold/crimp cords or insulation
may be ruined, exposing
wires which can short out
and spark.
� For fireplaces and wood
stoves, use only dried woods
(less smoke, dirt). Never use
flammable liquids. Dispose of
cool ashes in lidded metal
containers. Never leave a fire
unattended. When burning,
keep damper open, flammable
materials away and
glass door/screen closed.
� Avoid letting grease build up
in any part of the oven. A
greasy broiler can catch fire
even during preheating. Too
much fat on a piece of meat
can also cause the grease to
flare up and start a fire.
� Never heat cooking oil and
leave the room. A flame can
ignite spontaneously. Keep
combustibles away from the
stove, especially loose sleeves
or scarves. Hot grease can
spatter and ignite paper, cloth
or wood materials nearby.
� Do not hang dish towels or
pot holders on the wall above
the stove. They can fall off
and catch fire.
� Never leave synthetic fabrics,
plastics, rubber or foam in the
dryer for longer than the
manufacturer's recommended
time. Clean lint screen before
and after use. Keep area free
of combustibles. Dryer must
be vented to outside and
plugged into its own outlet.
� If you must store newspapers,
don't keep them in a damp,
warm place. Newspapers
generate heat and can ignite
themselves. Store them in a
cool, dry place at least 3 feet
from any heat-generating
source, such as a pilot light.
� Store flammable liquids in a
Don't go to bed expecting a
campfire to burn out. Keep flammable
materials and people at a
safe distance at all times.
cool, dry room in labeled,
metal containers with tight
lids. Never store them in a
room with a pilot light or too
close to hot light bulbs.
Vapors in the air can easily ignite.
� Store unused barbeque charcoal
in a cool, dry place, because
damp coal can ignite itself.
Use a metal pail/garbage
can with a tight lid and place it
in an open space where heat
can escape if self-ignition
should occur.
Turn off Christmas tree lights before
going to bed and when you leave
the house. Keep the tree well
watered and at least 3 feet from the
fireplace.
� Dry out oil-soaked rags by
spreading them out in a wellventilated
room so heat can
escape, then wash. Never put
oily rags in a pile, because
they can ignite themselves.
Store in labeled, metal containers,
sealed with a tight lid.
During the Holidays
� Turn off Christmas tree lights
when you go to bed and when
you leave the house.
� Keep the tree well watered,
and locate at least 3 feet from
the fireplace.
Fighting Small Fires
� COOKING FIRES -- Shut off
stove or oven, smother pan
with lid, Type B extinguisher
Keep combustibles away from the
stove when cooking. Don't hang
pot holders or dish towels nearby.
or baking soda. Smother fire
in oven by keeping door
closed and/or throwing
baking soda on food. Never
move pan -- it will fan the fire
or spatter grease. Never turn
on the exhaust fan or use
water. Fans draw the flames
up. Let fat cool in oven; contact
with air may make fire
flare up again.
� ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE
FIRES -- Switch off appliance,
pull out plug. Smother fire
with a blanket or Type C extinguisher.
Never try to cool
with water, because water
conducts electricity and can
give you an electric shock.
� GAS FIRES -- Shut off gas
supply. Smother with a rug,
blanket or Type B extinguisher
or cool with water.
Ventilate the area to let gases
out. Call the fire department
to check that gas pipes, etc.
no longer pose an immediate
danger. Then call the gas
company.
� HEATING FIRES -- Call the
fire department if the stove
pipe is red or if the fire is in
the chimney. For furnaces,
radiators and water heaters,
immediately shut off.
Smother if electrical, use
water or Type A extinguisher if
gas fired. Drown fire in
fireplace with baking soda,
water or Type A extinguisher
up the chimney.
� STORAGE FIRES -- Smother
with blanket or rug to cut off
air supply. Use type B extinguisher
for rags, charcoal, liquids
or solvents, hairspray or
glue and Type A extinguisher
for newspapers.
Surviving a Fire
� Agree on a way everyone can
COMMUNICATE during a fire.
Use a whistle, knock on walls
or just yell.
� Establish an ESCAPE PLAN.
Have frequent family meetings
to discuss escape routes from
your house. Every room
should have 2 means of escape
-- rope ladders for upper
floor windows. Have practice
drills every 3 months.
� STAY CALM so you can think
clearly. Remember your escape
plans as rehearsed, but
be ready to try a different escape
route if necessary.
� CHECK DOORS -- from top to
bottom, including the knob --
for intense heat or invading
smoke before opening.
� If smoke is coming in around
the edge of the door, or if the
door is hot, don't open it. Instead,
stuff clothing or wet
towels in the cracks. Try
another escape route or wait
for help to arrive.
� When you're sure it's safe,
open the door slightly, but be
ready to close it quickly if heat
and smoke rush in.
� CRAWLING along the floor will
help you to breathe easier.
Cover your nose and mouth
with a damp cloth to minimize
smoke inhalation.
Everyone needs to take fire prevention
seriously. National Fire Prevention
Week is Oct. 8-14. But don't
wait. Be aware and be prepared.
� Close all doors behind you.
� Decide on a meeting place
outside. DO NOT RE-ENTER.
For More Information
If you would like more information
on fire safety and prevention, contact
your local fire department.
ARMGUARD Los Angeles Security sells, installs and
monitors security
and fire systems.Call ARMGUARD Los Angeles offices at 1-800-654-
7797 for information on a
security/fire system for your home
or office.