A house fire is a devastating experience, thousands of deaths and millions of dollars in property damage occur every year due to house fires. It takes only minutes for a fire to spread throughout your house and become too large to contain. However you as the homeowner are the first line of defense against fire. By following these simple tips you can reduce the risk of fire in your home.

• Make sure your home has smoke alarms in every room and test them regularly, replacing the batteries twice a year. Additionally it is recommended that any smoke alarm over 10 years old be replaced.
• Place fire extinguishers throughout the house especially in the kitchen and garage.
• Do not store combustibles such as aerosol cans or gasoline near hot water heaters or furnaces.
• Use care and follow all manufacturer’s instructions when using a space heater. Never leave a space heater on when you are not home.
• Regularly inspect extension cords, replacing when needed. Never run extension cords underneath carpet or rugs.
• Never smoke in the house, especially in bed.
• Keep all lighters and matches out of reach of children.
• Never leave food cooking in the kitchen while nobody is home.
• Get a fire resistant safe to store valuables such as important documents or family photo albums.
• Develop a fire escape plan and practice it with your family