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Fire Safety at Home. Presented by Carol Rea Escondido Fire Dept. What are The MAIN CAUSES OF FIRE?. 3. Men, Women, & Children. And What are of the most common types of fires?. 4. Cooking, Candles, Electrical, & Dryer Fires. COOKING FIRES. What are the most common causes
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Fire Safety at Home Presented by Carol Rea Escondido Fire Dept.
What are The MAIN CAUSES OF FIRE? 3
Men, Women, & Children
And What are of the most common types of fires? 4
Cooking, Candles, Electrical, & Dryer Fires
What are the most common causes of cooking fires? 2
Cooking Fire Causes • Unattended cooking • Combustibles too close to a heat source
Cooking Fires • On Average: • 40% of all home fires • 36% of all home fire injuries • 1 out of every 8 homes • Mostly on the cook top • Usually in the first 15 minutes of cooking.
Cooking Fires Unattended cooking can lead to a fire that can destroy a kitchen and spread to the rest of a home Fire started by a microwave oven
Prevent a Cooking Fire • Stay in or near the kitchen while cooking • Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves • Keep combustibles away from heat sources
Prevent a Cooking Fire • Cook on rear burners • Keep pot handles turned away from the edge • Keep surfaces clean; prevent grease build-up
Prevent a Cooking Fire • Don’t cook if drowsy or impaired • Don’t allow kids or pets to play in the kitchen • Turn off the stove to answer the phone or the door
Prevent a Cooking Fire If a fire occurs on the stovetop – • Do NOT use • A fire extinguisher • Baking soda • A towel • NEVER pour water on a grease fire • NEVER try to move a pan that’s on fire
Prevent a Cooking Fire For a grease fire in a pan – • Slide a lid over the pan, • Turn off the burner • Let it cool • If you don’t have a lid use: • Larger pan • Cookie sheet • Wooden bread board
Prevent a Cooking Fire For a fire in the oven • Leave the oven door closed • Call 9-1-1
Prevent a Cooking Fire For a fire in a microwave oven • Keep the door closed • Unplug unit if safe to do so • Have the microwave oven serviced before using again
What's wrong with this picture? 4 3 5 2 1
This is a handle for opening the oven. It’s NOT A TOWEL RACK! What's wrong with this picture?
What are The MAIN CAUSES OF Candle FIREs? 3
Candle Fires • Combustible material too close (50%) • Candles left unattended (18%) • Playing with a candle (5% - mostly kids) Falling asleep – 12% of candle fires, 25% of associated deaths NFPA 2005
What are The Top Days for Candle FIREs? 5
Candle Fires • Christmas • Christmas Eve • New Year’s Day • New Year’s Eve • Halloween NFPA 2005
In 2002 Candles Caused: • 18,000 residential fires • 130 civilian deaths • 1,350 civilian injuries • $333 million in direct property damage U.S. - NFPA 2005
Candle Fires A candle started a fire in this apartment while the renter slept.
Prevent a candle Fire • Always use a candleholder • Make sure it’s • Sturdy, won’t tip • Non-combustible • Large enough to collect dripping wax
Prevent a candle Fire • Do not use candles that have combustible items embedded in them • Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or going to sleep • Keep candles away from combustibles and flammable liquids Burn candles inside a 1-foot “circle of safety”
Prevent a candle Fire • Never leave children unattended in a room with a burning candle • Don’t allow candles (and incense) in children’s or teens’ rooms • Store candles out of reach and sight of small children • Never leave a burning candle unattended
Prevent a candle Fire • Use candles cautiously during a power outage • Never use a candle when checking pilot lights or fueling equipment • Avoid using any candles after an earthquake
What are the most common causes of electrical fires? 3
Causes of Electrical Fires Lamp, light fixture, or light bulb – 28% Wiring – 22 % Outlet, receptacle, or switch – 17% Defective cords and plugs start 12% of electrical fires but cause 39% of civilian deaths resulting from electrical fires!
Electrical Fires 20,900 homes 500 civilian deaths 1,100 civilian injuries $862 million in property damage NFPA 2005
Causes of Electrical Fires This fire was caused by a 150-watt bulb used in a 60-watt lamp.
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Use lighting safely • Place lamps on level, uncluttered surfaces • Secure lampshades to protect bulb if lamp is knocked over • Never drape fabric or other combustible material over any lamp
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Use light bulbs that do not exceed recommended wattages • Lighting to be used outdoors should be designated as such
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Don’t misuse fuses and circuit breakers • If a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips correct the problem • Never replace a fuse or circuit breaker with one that exceeds the circuit rating • Never tape a circuit breaker in the open position
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Maintain electrical outlets • Replace old or damaged with GFI receptacles • Plug type should match outlet type • Do not use a multi-plug adapter unless it has its own circuit breaker
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Maintain electrical appliances • Look for the UL label • Allow air space around each • Unplug small appliances when not in use • Check CPSC website for product recalls
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Care for electrical cords • Keep out of traffic paths • Replace if cracked, cut, or frayed
Prevent an Electrical Fire Care for electrical cords • Don’t push furniture against plugs in outlets • Never run cords under carpets or through doorways • Never alter plugs
Prevent an Electrical Fire Extension cords are for temporary use only If an outlet isn’t close enough: • Re-arrange furniture • Have an electrician install another outlet • Use a multi-outlet adapter with its own circuit breaker
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Heed warnings of electrical problems • Recurring blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers • Feeling a tingle when touching an electrical appliance • Discolored wall outlets • Burning smell or odd odor • Sizzling sound at wall switches or outlets • Flickering lights
Tube Knob Prevent an Electrical Fire • Knob and tube wiring often found in homes built prior to 1950 • Can become brittle over time • Often impro-perly connected to newer wiring • Unlikely to be able to carry the heavy load of multiple modern appliances • Best replaced by a certified electrician
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Aluminum wiring, installed in homes during the 50s and 60s • has been responsible for many home fires • Biggest problem - connections with outlets and wall switches deteriorating over time
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Aluminum wiring • Can be identified by the writing on the side of the insulation
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Aluminum wiring • Can also be identified by the wire color
Prevent an Electrical Fire • Specialized connectors can reduce the risk of aluminum wiring • Rewiring is the best solution