Every 8 minutes, someone dies in a house fire—local experts show how to be safe

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From holiday cooking to warming our homes with space heaters, the risk of house fires increases exponentially during the last few months of the year. We met up with some of the American Red Cross team in Birmingham to learn some dos and don’ts of home fire safety—here’s what we learned.

Tip 1: Know how to use a smoke alarm

Smoke alarms are a powerful safety tool, cutting your risk of a fire-related death in half. They are also easy to use and install and require little maintenance.

Here’s how to ensure your smoke alarm works, plus more tips: 

• At a minimum, you should have a smoke alarm on each level of your home + outside each sleeping area.
• Keep your smoke alarms free of cobwebs + dust to prevent false alarms.
• Test your smoke alarms monthly to ensure it’s working.
• Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year—once when you spring forward + again when you fall back.
• Replace your smoke alarms once every 10 years.

For more home fire safety tips, visit the American Red Cross’ website. 

Tip 2: Have a home fire escape plan

Every 8 minutes, someone is killed in a home fire. This startling stat from the American Red Cross brings us to our next important home fire safety tip—have a home fire escape plan. 

While there’s no way to know when a house fire may happen, there are ways to prepare yourself if it does. 

Here are some things to know in case a fire breaks out that can keep you and your family or roommates safe:

• Check doorknobs with the back of your hand to avoid burns. If hot, try another exit. 
• If smoke or fire blocks your escape, place a wet towel under the door. If possible, open (or break) a window. 
• If trapped in your home, wave a brightly-colored cloth or flashlight out the window to alert firefighters you’re trapped inside.
• Yell FIRE right away before evacuating your home. This will alert everyone inside what’s happening. 
• Have a designated meeting spot. Whether it’s your neighbor’s house across the street or the stop sign on the corner, your meeting spot should be away from your home to ensure everyone is out of harm’s way from flames, smoke, etc. 
• Call 9-1-1 once it’s safe to do so.

Tip 3: Know what to do in the event of a grease fire 

From greasy pans to burners left on by mistake, cooking fires can happen to anyone at any time. In fact, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires.

In the event of a grease fire, follow these steps:

• Cut off oxygen to the flames by covering your pot/pan with a metal lid.
• Use your fire extinguisher to put out the fire. (It must have a B rating to work.)
• Leave your home if the fire is too big to put out on your own + call 9-1-1.

More Important tips:

• Never use water to put out a grease fire; it will cause the fire to intensify.
• Never store your extinguisher in cabinets or on shelves above your stove. If a fire occurs, you do not want to reach over flames to retrieve it.

Tip 4: Know how to use a fire extinguisher

Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home? If you don’t, now is the time to get one.

There are many things that can cause a home fire, whether your dinner catches flames in the oven or a space heater falls over while unattended.

Here are some important things to know about fire extinguishers:

• How to use it: If a fire breaks out, remember PASS: 
  • Pull out the pin
  • Aim low
  • Squeeze the lever slowly
  • Sweep from side to side

• Where to get it: Fire extinguishers are sold at a number of places, including your local hardware store, Tractor Supply and Target.

• More tips:
  • Make sure your extinguisher is rated “A-B-C”. This means it’s recommended for home use.
  • If you’re using an extinguisher and the fire does not immediately die out, drop it and get out.
  • Call 9-1-1 and make sure everything is out of the house. 

Be prepared for the unexpected—learn more home fire safety tips by visiting the American Red Cross’ website. For even more, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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