Safety Tips for Home Fire Prevention

Cooking Safety Tips

Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food.
Turn off the stove if you must leave the room for even a short period of time.
When you are simmering, boiling, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you.
Use the stove's back burners whenever possible, especially if you have young children.
Keep children and pets at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from the stove.
When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting or short sleeves.
Allow food cooked in a microwave oven to cool for a minute or more before you remove it from the oven; remember to use oven mitts.
Open microwaved food slowly. Hot steam escaping from the container can cause painful burns.

Smoking Safety Tips

Designate a smoking area outside the home.
Provide smokers with non-tip, deep, sturdy ashtrays.
Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn, like mattresses, bedding and upholstered furniture.
Choose fire-safe cigarettes.
Soak butts and ashes before dumping in a waste container.
Keep matches and lighters away from children - lock in a high cupboard.

Heating Safety Tips

Keep space heaters at least 1 metre (3 feet) from people and from anything that can burn, such as curtains and bedding.
Turn space heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
Have your furnace professionally inspected and serviced every year.
Have your chimneys cleaned and inspected before each heating season.

Electrical Safety Tips

Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices or extension cords.
Avoid overloading receptacles.
Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
Install ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) electrical outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor areas, basements, and garages.

Candles