Topeka Fire Department | Fire Prevention | Home Safety | Fire Safety Tips
Fire Safety begins at home. Every family should know the basics of how to prevent fires at home and what to do in case there is a fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments across the US responded to nearly 400,000 home fires in 2006.The Topeka Fire Department reminds everyone that with a little extra caution, preventing the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating, electrical and smoking-materials – is within their power. The NFPA has prepared a number of Safety Fact Sheets to help the whole family learn what steps to take to ensure their home is fire-safe.
Safety topics include:
- Appliances: Candles, cooking, heating, smoking, CO poisoning
- Candles: The top five days for home candle fires are Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, and Halloween
- Carbon Monoxide: Be aware of the hazards of this "silent killer."
- Children and fire: Children playing with fire cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries each year.
- Cooking: Includes general cooking safety info, as well as tips for microwaves, cooking oil and turkey fryers.
- Electrical safety: Safety in the home with circuit interrupters.
- Escape planning: Learn the steps to create and practice a home fire escape plan.
- Fire extinguishers: Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape.
- Fireworks: Each July Fourth, thousands of people are injured while using consumer fireworks.
- Heating: The peak months for home heating fires are December, January and February.
- Lightning: Fires started by lightning peak in the summer months and in the late afternoon and early evening.
- Seasonal safety: Fireworks, Christmas trees, grilling, Halloween safety and more.
- Smoke alarms: Working smoke alarms are essential in every household.
- Smoking materials-related fires: Smoking materials (i.e., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.) are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States.
