Pelham Fire Department
Home Fire Prevention Checklist
Safe and Warm
- Are space heaters at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from walls, sofas, and anything else that can burn?
- Has your chimney been inspected or cleaned in the past 12 months?
- If you have a fireplace, does it have a sturdy screen to catch sparks?
- Has your heating system been professionally inspected or serviced in the past 12 months?
Smoking Materials
- Do you encourage smokers to smoke outside?
- Are matches and lighters locked up high, out of sight and reach of children?
- Do you have large, deep, sturdy ashtrays?
Hazardous Materials
- Are paints, gasoline, and other flammable liquids stored away from flames and sparks?
- Is gasoline stored outside the home in a separate shed or garage?
- Is your storage area clean - no oily rags, used paint, or varnish rags?
House Wiring
- Do the tripping points of your fuses or breakers match the capacity of the circuits they protect? (Have them inspected professionally)
- Are bathroom and kitchen wall outlets protected by ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCIs)?
- Does your home have arc-fault circuit-interrupters (AFCIs)? Although currently only mandatory in bedroom wiring in new homes, these are an added safety feature as they detect abnormal arcing in a circuit.
Kitchen Tips
- Does an adult stay in the kitchen when something's cooking on the stove?
- Is your stovetop clean: no grease, no spills, no clutter?
- When you cook, do you turn pot handles in toward the back of the stove?
Keeping Your Family Safe From Fire
- Do you have smoke alarms installed on every level of your home and in each sleeping area?
- Do your smoke alarms work? Do you test them once a month and replace batteries once a year?
- Does everyone on your home know the sound of your smoke alarms?
- Do you have alarms with flashing lights for people who are deaf or hard of hearing?
- Are any smoke alarms in your home more than 10 years old? If so, replace them.
- Does your family have a home fire escape plan, and do you practise it every six months?
- Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home. Sprinklers can contain or put out a fire in less time than it takes the fire department to arrive.
If you have any questions on the above or other fire safety issues, please contact the Pelham Fire Department