Practice Fire Prevention at Home

• Never leave cooking food unattended, especially when frying, grilling, or broiling.
• Keep potholders, towels, paper products, and other combustible items away from stovetops and ovens.
• Never use water on a grease fire as it can cause the flames to spread.
• Keep children and pets away from cooking areas.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working and located near the kitchen.

• Never toss cigarette butts or other smoking materials onto the ground, into landscaping, or from a deck.
• Use sturdy, non-combustible ashtrays.
• Douse cigarette butts or other smoking materials with water before disposing of them.
• Avoid smoking near dry vegetation, especially during warm, dry weather.

• Clean the lint filter before or after every load.
• Inspect and clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct regularly.
• Make sure the vent exhausts outdoors and is not blocked by debris.
• Watch for warning signs such as clothes taking longer to dry, excessive heat, or a burning smell.

• Extinguish all candles before leaving a room or going to sleep.
• Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn, including curtains, decorations, papers, and furniture.
• Place candles on sturdy, non-combustible surfaces.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.
• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles as a safer alternative.

Refer to our post about the Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries and How to Use Them Safely.

• Never leave oily rags in a pile in the garage, basement, or workshop.
• Follow the product manufacturer's disposal instructions.
• Store used rags in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid until they can be disposed of properly.
• Keep oily rags away from heat sources and combustible materials.