Fire Prevention and Safety

First, check to see if your smoke alarm is hardwired or battery operated.

If it is battery operated, it will be mounted directly to a wall or ceiling and not connected to any wires. Follow the manufacture instructions for placement.

If it is hardwired, it will be mounted onto an electrical box where the wires are connected to an electrical circuit. If there is more than one hardwired smoke alarm, they should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound. You may want to contact an electrician to ensure new smoke alarms are compatible and installed properly.

Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed in central locations outside each sleeping room and on every level of the home. Test your carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button. Make sure everyone in the house is familiar with the sound of the carbon monoxide alarm.

Replace the alarms every 10 years or as recommended by the manufacture. If the carbon monoxide alarm intermittently beeps, check for low batteries and replace if needed.

If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location (outdoors or by an open window or door) and call 911.

Fire extinguishers can be used to put out a small fire or contain a fire until the fire department arrives. But because fires grow and spread so fast, the number one priority for residents is to get out safely.

You should not attempt to fight even a small fire until people have safely escaped the area and the fire department has been called.

Operation

Use the acronym P.A.S.S. to remember the fire extinguishing sequence:

P - Pull the pin in the handle.
A - Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
S - Squeeze the lever slowly.
S - Sweep from side to side until the fire is out or until the cylinder is empty.

Fire Extinguisher Types

• Class A For use on fires involving wood, cloth, paper, rubber, and many plastics.
• Class B For use on fire involving flammable liquids, combustible liquids, petroleum greases, tars, oils or oil-based substances
• Class C For use on fires that involve energized electrical equipment.
• Class D For use on fires involving combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.
• Class K For use on fires involving cooking appliances that use vegetable or animal oils and fats.

Safety Tips

• For the home, choose a multipurpose fire extinguisher (ABC) that can be used on all types of home fires. One that is large enough to put out a small fire, but not too heavy to handle.
• Install fire extinguishers close to exits and as required by the manufacture and NFPA 10 Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.
• Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and NFPA 10 for all inspection, maintenance, recharging and hydrostatic testing requirements.
• For commercial business, apartments and hotels, records of all testing and maintenance must be kept on the premises for two years.
• Only ULC-listed fire extinguishers are permitted for use in Canada.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. A closed-door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors.

Safety Tips

• Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home;
• Know at least two ways out of each room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leaking outside opening freely.
• Have an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
• Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.
• Practice using different ways out.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
• Close doors behind you as you leave.

If the Alarm Sounds

• If the smoke alarm sounds, GET OUT AND STAY OUT. Never go back inside for people or pets.
• If you have to escape though smoke, GET LOW AND GO
• Call 911 from outside your home

Create a Plan

• Visit each room. Find two ways out.
• All windows and doors should open easily. You should be able to use them to get outside.
• Make sure your home has smoke alarms. Push the test button to make sure each alarm is working.
• Pick a meeting place outside. It should be in front of your home. Everyone will meet at the meeting place.
• Make sure your house or building number can be seen from the street.
• Talk about your plan with everyone in your home.
• Learn the emergency phone number for your fire department.
• Practice your home fire drill!
• Draw your own home fire escape plan using this grid

More information

• NFPA Escape Planning Tips
• How to Make a Home Escape Plan
• Practice Your Escape Plan Video