Fire Prevention at Home

Happy family. These fire prevention tips will help keep your loved ones safe.

There are over 350,000 home fires in the United States annually, resulting in over 2,600 deaths, 11,000 injuries, and billions of dollars worth of damage, according to statistics from the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). But by being vigilant in and around your home, you can avoid being part of those staggering statistics. At Paul Davis, we’ve compiled our top fire prevention education and household recommendations to help you, your loved homes, and your home stay safe. 

Fire Prevention Tips

Follow these tips to keep you, your loved ones, and your home safe.

Stay Alert in the Kitchen

The number one cause of house fires is cooking. According to recent National Fire Prevention Association research, cooking is responsible for 49% of reported residential fires. Because of the extreme temperatures involved, kitchen fires can become fatal within minutes.

Decrease the likelihood of causing a kitchen fire by following these fire prevention tips

  • Keep an appropriately sized lid next to your pan to expediently cover the pan and snuff out sudden flames
  • Stay in the kitchen while cooking to avoid an out-of-control fire. If you have to leave the room, turn off the stove.
  • Roasting, simmering, and baking foods? Set a timer to remind you to check back occasionally. 
  • Move wooden utensils, potholders, oven mitts, paper products, dish towels, and curtains away from heat sources.
  • Stay alert while cooking, including limiting alcohol intake and wearing tight-fitting sleeves. 
  • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove. Use the stove’s back burners when possible. 
  • Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
  • If the fire is out-of-control, call 911 as soon as everyone evacuates the home.
  • Always have a functioning ABC-rated fire extinguisher accessible. 


One important fire safety note: Always keep a working smoke detector in or near your kitchen. If you find your kitchen smoke alarm annoying because it goes off while you’re cooking, don’t just take out the battery. Instead, try moving it to a location further away to prevent it from going off unnecessarily.

Remember, a disabled smoke alarm is just as dangerous as no smoke alarm at all.

Be Mindful About Power Stripes 

While a power strip is a convenient source of additional electricity, pay much attention to their warnings and directions. Power strips tend to be misused, with too many people using them to plug in high-voltage. 

The experts at Paul Davis regularly see the damage from overused outlets. Overloading – using too much electricity from too small a source – can result in shock, electrocution, or even fire. You may think you can avoid disaster by minimizing how much you plug into your power strips, but that’s not necessarily the case. Just one high-voltage plug can spell trouble.

Many people will plug two power strips into their walls. Most regular outlets cannot handle this, especially in older homes, which often lack the permanent electricity required by today’s tech-savvy households.

Finally, never make an electrical strip a permanent wall fixture, especially in winter when electrical use increases. Use power strips sparingly and temporarily with small, approved appliances and electronics. 

Use Space Heaters Cautiously 

During winter, homeowners often plug space heaters into a power strip. Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the United States, with more than 65,000 attributed to heating equipment annually (ESFi). 

Never plug a space heater into a power strip, even a small one. Power strips cannot handle the energy load of this appliance. Doing so can cause your power strip to overheat, creating a real fire hazard. 

Follow the usage instructions on your appliances; don’t throw the instructions away. They will outline the safest way to use your appliance and state any dangers associated with the misuse of a product.

Clean Your Chimney

Clean your chimney regularly to remove buildup and prevent fires. When cleaning, ensure the safety of your home by abiding by these fire prevention guidelines: 

  • Use the proper tools, including a chimney rod, chimney brush, tarps, buckets, and a flashlight. And don’t forget some duct tape!
  • Follow the correct chimney cleaning technique to avoid common problems. If you’re not sure you’re doing it right, this website is an excellent resource for proper cleaning methods.

Inspect Your Wires & Cords

“Home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year, nearly 500 deaths, over 1,400 injuries, and approximately $1.3 billion in property damage” (ESFi). One of the most common  – and overlooked – causes of electrical fires: frayed cords, especially those connected to lamps and appliances. You can reduce the chances of an electrical fire in your home when you proactively and routinely check electrical appliances and lamp wiring.

Here is what to look for when inspecting the wires in your home:

  • The reoccurrence of blown fuses
  • Circuit breakers that trip frequently
  • A harsh smell, similar to smoke or burning, continuous in a room or near an appliance.
  • Warm/discolored wall surrounding your outlets
  • Flickering or dimming lights
  • A slight tingle as you plug or unplug cords

Replace any damaged, old, or worn-out appliance cords immediately, and do not use devices with a frayed wire.

Finally, always keep children and pets away from electrical lines. If children or pets are playing with one, remove them from the area immediately and immediately inspect the cord for damage.

Store Propane & Flammables Properly 

Flammables can have devastating consequences when stored improperly, including poisoning, fires, and explosions. They are highly volatile; even the slightest disruption could cause trouble.  If you keep flammables in or around your home, store them properly.

First, keep flammables in proper containers. Never use everyday items such as milk jugs, Tupperware, or old paint cans; they should be kept and transported only in approved containers such as Factory Mutual (FM)-approved safety cans. 

Avoid storing flammable materials in a garage, basement, or utility room. Highly flammable liquids should be kept in a well-ventilated area detached from your home. Keep stored flammable liquids away from equipment that can cause a spark, like electrical tools, open flames, or other sources of ignition, including cars, washers and dryers, HVAC systems, and hot water heaters.

Take note of the temperature in the storage area and keep flammables away from high heat, such as intense summer temperatures or direct sunlight. Don’t have an area around your home that meets this criterion? Build a storage cabinet or purchase a flammable liquid storage cabinet through your local building supply or hardware store. Your storage area should always be locked so that children and pets can’t get into trouble.

Above all: Use common sense when handling flammables—take the time to store them properly.

Propane tanks, in particular, are highly inflammatory. When storing propane, remember: 

  • Store them outdoors upright on a hard surface in the home’s exterior. NEVER leave a cylinder tank inside a car or vehicle.
  • If you smell gas or notice a smell similar to rotten eggs, and there are no sparks or flames, shut off the gas to the tank. Leave immediately and call the fire department; do not return until they say it’s safe. Never use a cell phone, lights, or turn on appliances.
  • Always turn off the gas line or valve to an unused tank. Leaving the line or valve open could cause a leak, leading to potential injury, fire, or explosion.

Test Your Smoke Alarms Every Month 

Our number one fire safety tip: Test your smoke alarms monthly. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, 60% of residential fire fatalities occur in homes with missing, disconnected, or non-working smoke detectors. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm every six months, and clean it occasionally with a vacuum or a damp rag. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that 51% of home fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., while residents are asleep.  In many cases, fires begin as a slow unnoticeable smolder caused by overheated outlets, exposed wiring, old extension cords, and much more. Because smoke and fumes travel faster than flames, and most families have only mere minutes to flee their home once a fire begins, working smoke detectors are crucial for fire safety. You want to know fire as soon as possible so you can escape before it’s too late. 

Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe

Being vigilant around your home can seem like a chore, but performing these tasks is far less expensive (financially and emotionally) than rebuilding your home.

If something does happen, our team is on standby to help. At Paul Davis, we clean up and repair property damage from fire, smoke, and water from firefighting efforts to get homes and businesses back to normal as soon as possible. 

Learn more about our team and keep our number handy: 651.243.0737