10 Home Fire Safety Tips for Fall

As fall arrives, cooler weather and seasonal activities bring new fire safety risks. While you’re decorating for Halloween or cozying up to a warm fire, keep these essential fire safety tips in mind to protect your home and family:

1. Change Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries

• Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors each year before you turn on the heat. To remember this task, add it to your  Daylight Savings time clock-changing routine. This ensures that your alarms are working when you turn on the heat and helps prevent home fires.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside each sleeping area. Make sure you have a working smoke alarm near your bedrooms and in common areas like hallways.
• Test each smoke alarm monthly. When you replace batteries, don’t forget to check that your fire extinguishers are in good condition.

2. Clean Chimneys and Dispose of Ashes Safely

• When using your fireplace, place cooled ashes in a metal container. Keep the container away from your home or garage until fully cooled. This can prevent any embers from reigniting and causing a fire.
• Hire a licensed, professional chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney each year, especially before the heating season begins. Creosote buildup in the chimney is a common cause of home fires, making regular cleaning essential.

3. Use Fireplace and Wood Stoves Safely

• Burn only seasoned, dry wood in your wood stove, and avoid using flammable liquids to start a fire. These safety measures reduce the risk of dangerous flare-ups or the chimney catching fire.
• Regularly clean out ashes from your fireplace or wood stove, and keep a mesh metal screen around the fireplace to contain sparks and embers. This small step helps keep your home safe from stray sparks.

4. Service Heating Devices Before Use

• Have a certified HVAC contractor inspect, clean, and service your heating system. This service helps to prevent potential fire hazards and water damage and keeps the system working efficiently.
• Replace furnace filters for better air quality. A clean system reduces the risk of overheating, which can be a fire hazard.
• If using space heaters, keep at least a three-foot space around them, especially away from flammable materials like curtains, rugs, and bedding. While modern kerosene heaters are designed for indoor use with proper ventilation and safety features, never use older kerosene heaters inside without proper precautions.
  • All kerosene heaters, old or new, can produce carbon monoxide if not used properly or if malfunctioning. 
  • And remember: turn space heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed.

5. Practice Halloween Fire Safety

• Keep decorations away from open flames and other heat sources. Use battery-operated lights instead of candles in jack-o-lanterns, reducing the home fire risk.
• Make sure your children’s Halloween costumes are flame-resistant, and avoid long, trailing fabrics that could catch fire. Teach children about the importance of fire safety during Halloween so they know how to stay safe while trick-or-treating.

6. Remove Outdoor Fire Risks

• Clear leaves, twigs, and other flammable debris from around your home regularly. This is especially important because dried leaves can easily catch fire.
• Store flammable liquids like gasoline in approved containers, away from heat sources and living areas. Keep them in a locked cabinet or shed for added safety.
• Clean your roof, gutters, and downspouts regularly to remove leaves and other materials that could catch fire. 
• Before storing lawn equipment for winter, empty fuel from lawnmowers and other tools.

7. Practice Safe Outdoor Fire Pit Use

• Place fire pits on flat, stable surfaces and keep them a safe distance from your home, garage, or wooden decks.
• Always have a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher nearby when using a fire pit. This can help extinguish a small fire before it becomes a major problem.

8. Keep Fire Extinguishers Accessible

• Place fire extinguishers in key areas like the kitchen, garage, and near fireplaces. Make sure everyone in your household knows how to use them correctly.
• While escaping a fire is recommended over fighting a fire, keep a fire extinguisher in bedroom areas to ensure quick access if a fire breaks out at night.

9. Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan

• Design a home fire escape plan that includes two exit routes from every room. Make sure that doors and windows are easy to open in case of a real fire.
• Establish a meeting place outside where all family members can gather once they have safely exited the house. This allows you to account for everyone quickly.
• Practice the escape plan at least twice a year, both during the day and at night. If you live in an apartment building, review the escape routes available and teach children how to evacuate safely.
• Instruct everyone to stay low to the ground to avoid breathing in smoke, which can be as dangerous as the flames themselves. The practice helps ensure a calm response if a fire occurs.

10. Prepare for Power Outages Safely

• Avoid using candles during power outages. Instead, use flashlights with fresh batteries to light your home.
• Never use portable generators inside your home, garage, or enclosed areas, as they emit poisonous gases like carbon monoxide. Use them outdoors and away from windows.

Following these fire safety tips can help prevent home fires and keep your family safe this fall. By taking the time to install smoke alarms, prepare a home fire escape plan, and practice essential fire safety measures, you can protect your home and loved ones. If a fire does occur, your quick action and preparation can make all the difference until firefighters arrive.

You might also like: How to Prepare Your Home for Fall and Winter

Follow these tips, and don’t let a fire ruin your fall. For professional smoke remediation or fire damage repair, call PuroClean Emergency Services of Dayton, Ohio, 937-401-9700 or Cincinnati, Ohio, 513-897-8990.