Home Fire Safety During an Emergency

Emergencies increase fire risk because people use candles, space heaters and improvised cooking. Fires move fast. US Fire Administration material says you may have less than 3 minutes to get out.

Alarms

	US	Canada
Where	Every level, inside and outside sleeping areas	Every bedroom, hallway outside bedrooms, every level
Test	Monthly	Monthly
Batteries	Twice a year, unless 10-year lithium	As the manufacturer says (Canada.ca wildfire page: every 6 months)
Replace	Every 10 years	At 10 years
Carbon monoxide alarm	Each level; replace within about 7 years	Battery backup, hallways and outside sleeping areas

Escape plan

• Two ways out of every room.
• Practise twice a year, including in the dark.
• Pick a meeting place outside.
• Check windows and screens open, and walkers and wheelchairs fit through exits.

If there is a fire

Get out and stay out. Crawl low under smoke. Check whether a door is hot before opening it. Call 911 from outside. If your clothes catch fire: stop, drop and roll.

Extinguishers

Look for a UL or ULC listed ABC extinguisher, and choose the largest you can comfortably handle. Keep it near an escape route, not beside the hazard.

Only use it if others have been alerted, someone has called the fire department, the fire is small and contained, and you have a clear way out. Young children and older adults should not use extinguishers. Use PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze slowly, Sweep side to side. If any doubt, leave and call 911.

Heat sources

Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet (1 m) from heaters and stoves. Have chimneys inspected yearly. Plug space heaters straight into the wall.

Carbon monoxide warning. Generators, camp stoves, barbecues, charcoal, and kerosene or propane burners give off carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell and which can kill within minutes. Never use them indoors, or in a garage, basement, shed, tent or covered porch, even with doors and windows open. Outdoors, keep them at least 20 feet (6 m) from doors, windows and vents.