Make a Plan:

• Plan escape routes. Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
• Select a location outside your home where everyone would meet after escaping.
• Practice your escape plan at least once a month.

Keep Your Home Safe:

• Ensure the house’s address number is visible from the street to assist firefighters in finding the location.
• Install a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm in each sleeping area and on each level of your home.
• Test each alarm once a month. Replace all batteries during daylight saving time or every 6 months.
• Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time. Replace your smoke alarms every ten years.
• Vacuum away cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms regularly.
• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home.
• Sleep with your door closed. If you wake up to the sound of a smoke detector, feel the doorknob with the back of your hand before you open it. If the doorknob is cool, leave immediately. Close doors behind you.
• Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floor. Learn how to use them and store them near the window.
• Keep one working fire extinguisher on each level of your home and know how to use it.
• Keep matches, lighters, and other flammable materials in a safe location--away from children.
• Do not leave candles or cooking unattended.
• Do not overload electrical outlets. Unplug appliances when not in use.
• Use safety caps to cover all unused outlets, especially if there are small children in the home.
• Have the furnace serviced by a professional before heating season begins. Do not use a gas stove or a grill to heat your home.

If the Smoke Detector Sounds or if You See a fire:

• Remain calm and get out immediately. Do not re-enter the building for any reason.
• Call 9-1-1 from a safe location.
• Feel the door with the back of your hand before you open it. If the door is hot or you see smoke under the door, find another way out.
• Drop to the floor to avoid smoke and fumes. Crawl to safety.
• If your clothes catch on fire, STOP where you are, DROP to the ground, and ROLL over and over to smother the flames.
• If you are trapped in a burning building, stay near a window and close to the floor. If possible, signal for help.
• If the fire is contained and you have a fire extinguisher nearby, you may choose to attempt to put the fire out yourself. If the fire is not electrical or chemical in nature, water can also be used to extinguish it.
• Do not try to put out a fire that is getting out of control. If you're not sure you can control it, get out of the building immediately.
• Smother oil and grease fires in the kitchen with baking soda or salt, or put a lid over the flame if it is burning in a pan.

Open Burning:

Open burning can result in dangerous wildfires, which may spread to automobiles, homes and other structures very quickly.

• Citizens should check with their municipality regarding specific burn ordinances. Some municipalities have permanent burn bans or require permits for open burning.   
• Be aware of ‘red flag warnings’ issued by the National Weather Service. A red flag warning means that fire danger is very high. Click here to check the red flag status for York County.