Did you know that it only takes 30 seconds for a house fire to become life-threatening? According to Ready.gov, most people have less than two minutes to escape before they’re completely trapped.

There are many ways to prevent a fire tragedy in your home.

1. Install Smoke Detectors

Also, the majority of home fire deaths resulted from fires that started in the bedroom. Almost 60% of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms, according to the NFPA. The majority of these deaths result from fires that started in the bedroom.

According to NFPA, you should have at least one smoke detector in every sleeping room and another one outside each sleeping area. All smoke detectors should be interconnected so that if any one of them is triggered, they will all go off. You should replace your smoke detectors every 10 years.

The National Fire Protection Agency recommends that you have a smoke alarm in your kitchen. However, they advise that you place the alarm at least 10 feet away from cooking appliances to reduce false alarms.

It’s also a good idea to install smoke detectors that detect carbon monoxide. That is especially important if you have a wood stove or fireplace that you use in the winter.

The CPSC recommends changing batteries in smoke detectors during daylight saving time and testing monthly to ensure they are still functioning properly. To avoid false alarms, keep detectors clean and free of cobwebs and dust.

2. Install Fire Extinguishers & Fire Ladders

It’s important to install your fire extinguishers high on the wall so they’re out of reach of children and easily accessible in an emergency. Make sure you read the directions and are familiar with how they operate, as you won’t have time to learn in the event of a fire. Many local fire departments offer training for homeowners on how to use fire extinguishers, so it’s worth checking to see if this is something that’s available in your area.

If you use a fire extinguisher, aim low at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever slowly and evenly, and sweep back and forth.

Each floor of a multiple-story home should have at least two fire ladders stored in different rooms in the event that one room is inaccessible due to fire.

3. Plan Your Escape

Make sure to mark any windows and doors that can be used as an exit. In order to make a home fire escape plan, you should start by drawing your home’s floor plan using the NFPA’s escape grid. You should then find at least two escape routes out of every room in your home, and map them on the grid. Finally, make sure to mark any windows and doors that can be used as an exit.

It is important to talk to your family about fire safety and how they can escape different parts of the house. Showing them a floor plan of the house can help children visualize where they should go if there is a fire. You should also choose a meeting place outside of the house that everyone can go to in case of a fire. This meeting place should be far away from the house to prevent anyone from getting hurt.

Make sure that everyone in your family knows that they should never go back into a burning building under any circumstances. If someone in your household is missing, you should tell the firefighters as soon as they arrive. They have the tools and skills necessary to perform rescues.

It is important to perform a fire drill at least twice a year so that your family is comfortable and knows how to get out quickly in case of an emergency.

You can’t just rely on knowing the route to prepare for a fire. You also need to make sure that every point of egress is accessible in case someone needs to escape.

• Check your home’s windows – If your doors and windows have security bars, make sure the bars have emergency-release latches on the inside so someone can open them quickly during an emergency.

• Make sure your home is visible – If you can’t see your house number from the street, paint it on the curb or install larger house numbers so firefighters or other first responders can easily find your home.
• Clear your escape route – Clear your home’s escape routes of any furniture or clutter that might slow or stop your family from getting out quickly.
• Move televisions out of the way of windows or doors.
• If any doors in your home are padlocked, take these locks off and use locks anyone in your family can open easily.

• During the holidays, don’t put Christmas trees or other large decorations in front of doorways or windows.
• If you use plastic insulation on your windows to lower your heating bill, make sure everyone in your family knows how to take it off so they can escape.

4. Unplug Items You’re Not Using

Electrical fires are a potential hazard in any home where electrical appliances are present. Even when these appliances are turned off, they can overheat and cause a fire.

The power flowing into electronic devices when they are plugged in provides a potential source of fire. Prevent fires by unplugging devices when not in use.

5. Use Surge Protectors

The least you can do to protect your electronics from an electrical fire is to plug them into a surge protector. A surge occurs when there is an excess of electricity, and by plugging items into a surge protector, you can prevent the electricity from reaching the item and causing a fire.

The surge protector prevents excess electricity from entering your home and reduces the risk of fire.

6. Don’t Smoke In the Home

It’s important to always smoke in a well-ventilated area and to put out your cigarette completely before throwing it away. Cigarettes have a variety of additives and materials inside of them that can continue to burn even if you think that you’ve put them out.

If you smoke inside your house, there is a danger that the flames from your cigarette could ignite something else in your house, like a trashcan. To avoid this, smoke outside, and be careful not to drop any ashes.

7. Remove Lint And Change Filters

Your heating system needs a filter, but you need to change it frequently. If lint fills the filter, heat from the furnace can ignite it.

You should remove the lint from your dryer filter each time you do laundry, as a build-up of lint can cause a fire.

8. Turn Off Heated Appliances When You Leave the House

Dryers, dishwashers, space heaters, and heated blankets all use a lot of heat, which can be a fire hazard if left running when no one is home.

If you are moments away from a fire, you can prevent it from becoming a larger fire, but if you are not around or if you are asleep, that is not possible.

9. Check The Electrical Frequently

You don’t need to check electrical wires by taking apart your walls, but you should check anything else that is visible. Check the wall outlets in your home and pay attention to any that suddenly don’t work.

If you see cords to your electric belongings that are frayed or damaged, it could be evidence of a problem behind the walls. You don’t want to plug them into your electrical system if there might already be a problem.

10. Keep The Debris Down

You should also keep flammable materials like firewood and leaves away from the outside of your home to avoid them catching fire from stray ashes or sparks.

You should keep flammable objects away from your house to prevent them from spreading fires and causing bigger problems.

11. Practice Open Fire Safety

If you want to operate your fireplace and wood stove safely, and reduce the risk of a house fire, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that you clean your chimney each year. They say that the best time to do this is in the late summer or fall, before you have to rely on your fireplace or wood stove for heat. You can find a certified chimney sweep in your area through the Chimney Sweep Safety Institute of America.

When it starts to get colder outside, never leave a fire unattended in a fireplace or wood stove, and never leave children or pets in the room alone with a burning fire. Also, keep anything that could catch on fire at least 3 feet away from your fireplace or wood stove. If you have to leave the house, make sure the fire is completely out before you go.

A fireplace screen is a good investment because it can help prevent burning embers from coming into the room and igniting something, as well as protect children or pets from accidental burns.

12. Check Electrical Safety

There are several ways to identify electrical outlets in need of replacement:

• Warmth or Heat
• Smoke
• Loose Connections
• Sounds
• Frayed Wires

By making use of certain appliances at the same time, you could run the risk of overloading your circuits and causing a power outage. Therefore, it is advised that you do not use too many appliances at once and keep an eye on your circuit breaker in case it trips. If you notice any dimming lights, it may be an indication that your circuits are overloaded so it is best to contact an electrician as soon as possible.

Ensure that the wattage of the bulbs in every light and lamp in your home does not exceed the amount recommended by the manufacturer to avoid the potential of starting a house fire.

13. Remember Natural Gas Safety

A break in natural gas lines or fittings could lead to an explosion. Natural gas doesn’t have its own smell, so an odorant that smells like rotten eggs is added for safety purposes.

Get out of your home immediately and call 911 if you smell natural gas. Never call for help while still inside the home. The sparks generated from the phone could cause an explosion.

If your furnace is powered by natural gas, you should have it checked by a licensed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning professional every year. This is to ensure that all of the pipes and fittings are in good condition. It is also important to keep the area around your furnace clean by vacuuming up dirt, dust, and debris, and keeping the area free of clutter.

14. Stay Safe in the Kitchen

Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires, so it’s no surprise that there are more fires on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year. The day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Day are a close second and third for residential fires.

Clean up any spilled grease as soon as it has cooled to prevent any accidents.

If a grease fire does ignite, never use water to put it out. This will only make the fire worse by causing the grease to splatter and the water to turn to steam.

In order to put out a small grease fire in a pot or skillet, you should slide a pot lid over the flames and turn off the burner. Once the pan has cooled completely, you can remove the lid. Be sure not to remove the lid too early, as this could cause the fire to reignite.

If the fire is small and manageable, you could use baking soda or salt to put it out, according to Fire Rescue 1. However, never use other cooking powders, such as baking powder or flour, as they have different chemical makeups and could make the fire worse.

15. Be Extra Careful During Holidays

Be Careful With Turkey Fryers

To minimize the risks associated with using a turkey fryer, it should only be used outdoors on a flat, level surface. Make sure to keep children and pets at least three feet away from the fryer at all times, and to not allow any disruptive games or activities near the cooking area.

Monitor Your Christmas Tree

It is important to water your Christmas tree every day to prevent it from drying out. If the water level falls below the stump, a seal forms over the cut and the tree can no longer absorb water. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and can catch fire within seconds. This type of fire is particularly deadly because it gets so hot so quickly.

Check Holiday Lights Annually

If you want to use holiday lights without posing a fire danger, the NFPA has some tips for you.

• Don’t Overplug
• Replace Damaged Lights
• Switch to LED
• Don’t Use Nails

16. Check Your Insurance Coverage

-If your house were to catch on fire, would you have insurance that would cover everything you own? -Your policy covers the value of things like jewelry and computers, but would it give you enough money to replace them? -If you’re renting, make sure you have renters insurance to protect your property.

If you are not satisfied with the level of coverage your policy offers, you can buy additional coverage to be safe. Having copies of pictures and videos of what was lost in the fire will help you provide the evidence you need to prove your loss.