Fire Prevention Week starts Sunday, October 3, 2021. We're urging families to create a fire escape plan and practice it! Home escape planning & practice will help you be prepared in a real fire.

In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.

Home Fire Escape Plan

• Draw a map of each level of the home, showing all doors and windows
• Go to each room and point to the two ways out
• Making sure someone will help children, older adults, and people with disabilities wake up and get out
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help them
• Establish a meeting place outside and away from the home where everyone can meet after exiting
• Have properly installed and maintained smoke alarms

Home Fire Escape Practice 

• Pushing the smoke alarm button to start the drill
• Practicing what to do in case there is smoke: Get low and go. Get out fast.
• Practicing using different ways out and closing doors behind you as you leave
• Never going back for people, pets, or things
• Going to your outdoor meeting place
• Calling 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone
• Clear clutter/fire hazards away in and outside of your home. Make sure windows can open easily and doors are unblocked.

Smoke Alarms 

• Smoke alarms detect and alert people to a fire in the early stages. Smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire.
• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.
• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
• Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.

Cooking

• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Thanksgiving is the leading day for fires involving cooking equipment.
• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly and stay in the home.
• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop

Heating

• Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months.
• Space heaters are the type of equipment most often involved in home heating equipment fires.
• All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from heating equipment.
• Have a 3-foot (1-meter) “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Purchase and use only portable space heaters listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Have a qualified professional install heating equipment.
• Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year.

Wildfires

• Create a plan for evacuation that includes alternate routes out of the danger area.
• Have prepacked kits with essentials such as medicine, family records, credit cards, a change of clothing, and food and water.
• Create a family communication plan that designates an out-of-area friend or relative as a point of contact to act as a single source of communication.
• Prepare a plan for the care of pets and other animals. • Sign up for wildfire alerts. • Take steps to protect family, friends, or neighbors who have disabilities.
• Stay aware of local fire conditions. When told to evacuate, go promptly. If you feel unsafe, do not wait for an evacuation order—leave immediately.

Please visit www.nfpa.org for more information and additional resources.

If you have any questions please visit or contact the Sunnyside Fire Department.