A Global Endeavor to Communicate Fire Knowledge

It has taken 25 years to boil the steps down to these 5. You manage the effect of all unwanted fire in your home. Just act on the five steps below and keep it up.

Step 1. Reduce the chance of an ignition.
The best protection from unwanted fire in your home is Preventing the initial Ignition.
You can prevent this Ignition by making 3 easy moves, but it's your choice and your risk.

1. Watch for hot things. All fires must start from something hot. Examples: cooking stove, overloaded extension cord, heating unit, candles, hot coals in ashes, matches.
2. Throw out combustible things. All fires take root in something combustible. Examples: corrugated cardboard, newspaper, trash, loose garment sleeves.
3. Keep hot things and combustible things apart. Examples: use a fireplace screen; throw out trash; move a box; use firm, wide candle holders; take off garments with loose sleeves.

Step 2. Know when a fire starts.
Place smoke detectors on "every level" of your home. Put in new batteries on October 9th each year.(The day of the largest loss of life fire) Test your device on the first of each month; mark your calendar.

Step 3. Get out.
Get out as soon as you are aware of a fire. Unlike fireplace flames or cooking heat, unwanted fires keep growing--from small to large to fearsome to fatal. Move out quickly.

Step 4. Call for help early.
Your local fire service wants your call while a fire is suspected or flames are small. Ask them. They may be willing to come before a fire to give you some thoughts about things you can do in your home.

Step 5. Fight it, if you must.
Have a portable, multi-purpose (A,B,C) fire extinguisher at each "exit" of your home. Make sure to have at least one 20-pound dry chemical unit (above a UL rating of 10A, 60BC). Put it at the "exit" so the "way out" will be behind you when you start back to fight the fire.

List of Publications including "Home Fire Management."