Cigarette Fires

• About1,000 people, smokers and non-smokers alike, are killed every year in residential fires that begin from cigarettes and other types of smoking materials. Never smoke in a home where oxygen is being used by someone. Double check the cigarette butts to make sure that they are no longer warm before throwing them in the trash. It would also be wise to make sure that you are smoking fire-safe cigarettes.
  
  

Holiday Fires

• Every year homes go up in flames due to live Christmas trees. A tree that is dried out is at risk for catching fire. Make sure that all electrical holiday decorations are double checked for shorts or broken wires. Also be sure to check the tree water daily and add more as needed.
  
  

Kitchen Fires

• Make sure that you always keep oven mitts, paper towels, dish towels, curtains, plastic bags and wooden utensils away from the stove. Never cook if you are extremely tired, on medications that make you drowsy or if you have been drinking alcohol. If you are not alert you will not be able to handle a kitchen fire should one start.
  
  

Electrical Fires

• Refrain from using extension cords in the home when at all possible. Never plug in appliances that will use more wattage than the electrical circuit provides. Faulty electrical outlets also can cause fires. If you ever find that an outlet is hot to the touch when being used, you must unplug anything that is using power from that outlet. Shut off the power breaker for that room until a licensed electrician can inspect it.
  
  

Dryer Fires

• Trapped lint in a dryer or in the dryer vent can quickly cause a fire. Use a metal vent to help prevent the buildup of trapped lint and position the vent so that it is a straight shot to the outside. Clean the lint trap each time you use the dryer. Have a certified technician take apart the dryer to completely clean it of lint once a year, as lint will accumulate in more places than just the lint trap.
  
  

Accidental Fires by Children

• If there are children in the home, all matches, lighters and flammable liquids should be kept out of reach of children or locked away. It is important that there is proper storage of gasoline and other flammable liquids outside the home. Store such flammables in a locked storage shed separate from the home.