Residential

"Cooking is the leading cause for residential fires in the United States. Most fires in the kitchen usually start from cooking that is left unattended. Lunch and dinner times are when the highest percentage of fires occurs. Fats, oils, and grease are usually what are ignited. Never overheat any kind of grease or oil. Dish towels or paper towels and napkins that are too close to a stove can also ignite a fire. A class ABC fire extinguisher is recommended to keep near the stove. This type of fire extinguisher can be used on most materials found in the kitchen. This includes grease, paper products, and electrical appliances.Heating fires are another leading cause of residential fires in the U.S.

Heating elements such as space heaters and baseboard heating can be dangerous because of the closeness to household combustibles and people. There are many different kinds of space heaters from small and portable to permanently installed. Whatever kind of design you buy, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions or applicable codes. Heaters can also be installed by a professional. To prevent fires, make sure all heaters are turned off when you’re not in the room. Heaters shouldn’t be placed on top of any surfaces such as tables, cabinets, or furniture. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn or is combustible. Gasoline should never be used in a liquid fueled space heater. Refuel only when the heater is cool, and use the proper grade of fuel. If a baseboard heater is used, then cords shouldn’t be draped across it. It’s important to put 18 inches of clearance around baseboard heaters for fire safety. Drapes and curtains need to have clearance, as well.

Electrical fires in homes are extremely dangerous. Wiring, plugs, switches, and appliances carry electric currents that make heat. Extreme heat can get out of control and cause a fire to start. Overloading circuits and running cords under rugs, or where they’re constantly stepped on, can cause an electrical fire. All old or damaged appliance cords or wiring should be replaced immediately. Dryers, televisions, and radios are some of the home appliances that can cause a fire to start. Washers and dryers can put a lot of stress on electrical connections because of their movement. They need to be checked on a regular basis. Don’t put any electrical appliances in a cabinet, especially where there is paper. Improper wiring when adding lights, ceiling fans, switches and outlets can be unsafe. Not only can it cause fires, but also injury and shock. When using extension cords, you should only plug one home appliance into an outlet at a time. Do not go above more then 1,500 watts for each outlet. Lights that dim, slow-heating appliances, and fuses blowing often are signs of overloaded electrical systems. Using the wrong size fuse and loose connections at switches or receptacles can lead to fires. Any electrical device used near water should be the ground fault interrupting type. This includes outdoor receptacles. When an electrical device is installed outdoors, it should be made for outdoor use. A licensed electrician can inspect a home to ensure all wiring systems are safe.Fires can also start in the chimney. Most chimney fires are caused by accumulation of creosote. Creosote is an extremely flammable natural byproduct of burning wood that can build up inside the chimney. There are many different forms of combustible creosote such as tar glaze, slag, flakes, and soot. Too much creosote causes a loud and severe fire that can cause walls and rafters to burn. It can spread very quickly through a home. A continuous fire in the fireplace is slower in starting new fires because the creosote accumulates more when a fire is first lit. Creosote will also accumulate more slowly if the chimney is properly installed. All chimneys should have clear air space of about 2 inches to the nearest combustible material. Wooden framing members and sheeting should be kept back from the outer surface of the chimney in case there should be a serious fire. It is recommended to have a chimney cleaned and inspected once a year if fires are lit in the fireplace three or more times a week. If a chimney isn’t designed correctly, then deposits can build up faster and need to be taken care of more often. Regularly check your chimney until you know how your installation affects creosote. Flammable items should be kept away from the fireplace. The fireplace and fireplace inserts should be equipped with screens. This will keep sparks from flying. Ashes can start fires, so they need to be kept away from anything burnable.

Fire action plans should be made for the whole family, particularly for children, the elderly, and the disabled. There should be two ways out of each room. Windows or screens should open easily. The escape plan should be displayed where everyone can see it. The plan should be practiced two times a year."