Prevent House Fires in Carrollton
House fires can happen quickly; a fire can become life-threatening in just two minutes. A residence can be engulfed in flames in five minutes. At the Carrollton Fire Department, we work proactively with our community to help prevent fires before they happen. We have curated a list of simple steps you can take today to prevent house fires from damaging your property, endangering the lives of your loved ones and keeping our community safe. Read on to learn more.
Common House Fire causes
Cooking
- Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. Turn off the stove if you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time.
- Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
- Position barbecue grills at least 10 feet away from siding and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
- Keep a fire extinguisher available.
- Never use a stove range or oven to heat your home.
- Keep combustible and flammable liquids away from stoves, ovens and grills.
Appliances
- Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.
- If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
- Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
- Portable generators should NEVER be used indoors and should only be refueled outdoors and in well ventilated areas.
Fireplaces & Woodstoves
- Inspect and clean woodstove pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions.
- Use a fireplace screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks.
- Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed.
- Keep combustible and flammable liquids away from fireplaces and woodstoves
Portable Space Heaters
- Keep combustible objects at least three feet away from portable heating devices.
- Only buy heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- Check to make sure the portable heater has a thermostat control mechanism and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over.
- Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene in kerosene heaters. Never overfill it. Use the heater in a well-ventilated room away from curtains and other flammable items.
- Keep combustible and flammable liquids away from heaters.
Keeping Children Safe
Children are vulnerable when fire breaks out and can sometimes accidentally be the cause of house fires. For young children, a watchful eye is always advised to keep them safe from harm. For older children, the Carrollton Fire Department offers interactive educational programs to teach children basic fire safety. Follow the link below to learn more.
Fire Safety For Children
- Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
- Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach and sight, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave children unattended near operating stoves or burning candles, even for a short time.