As we consider possible natural disasters, it can be disconcerting how little control one has over what will happen, and how little advance notice there generally is. All one can do is prepare to mitigate the circumstances, which can still be worth a lot. One the other hand, house fires are almost completely preventable, so it makes sense to ensure that this area is under control.
I recently had CERT fire suppression training from a local fireman. I asked him what were the most common causes of house fires on the calls he took. After asking if “people” counted as the answer, he confirmed that the most common cause was kitchen fires, especially from people leaving things unattended on the stove, even if only for a minute. Our first safety tip is to never leave food you are cooking unattended, especially if it involves grease.
Simple adherence to the Word of Wisdom makes it unlikely that you will leave a burning cigarette unattended, but if you have a fondness for candles, they can be another potential hazard. Treat your burning vanilla candle like a pan of bacon frying, and do not leave it unattended.
Remember, fire is a chemical reaction involving fuel, heat, and oxygen. As you go through your house identifying hazards, you should be primarily looking for sources of fuel and heat, as you will not want to eliminate the oxygen. In the main living areas of your home, the primary fuel sources would be large stacks of papers. Garages and sheds tend to be more dangerous, as there could be greasy rags, gasoline for lawnmowers, fertilizer, or other chemicals.
Obviously, you may need many of these items, and not want to get rid of them, but you can follow the L.I.E.S. principle:
Limit the amount of hazardous materials you buy and store. The fifty pound bag of fertilizer may be a better value, but if you are only going to need two pounds for the year, that is what you should buy.
Isolate the materials by keeping them separate from sources of heat, in a locked cabinet when possible.
Eliminate the materials that you no longer need. Metro Recycling frequently has hazardous waste roundups where you can drop off the items free of charge. For more information, call 503-234-3000.
Separate items that will react together. This seems to contradict the Isolate step, but if you are storing oxidizers with flammables, or bleach with ammonia, you are creating a new hazard. Perhaps you will need two locked cabinets.
Of course, even rugs and furniture can burn, so you will want to check for sources of sparks or heat also. We have covered potential open flames like candles or grease fires, but if you have natural gas appliances there will be pilot lights. New building codes require that gas heaters in garages be raised so that the gas fumes from the car (which are heavy, and sink to the ground) cannot reach the pilot light and react. If you have an older home, you may need to get this done.
If you have a fireplace or wood stove, ashes may look dead but contain live embers that work their way to the outside as much as three days later. When cleaning out these ashes they should always be put in a metal container (never paper or plastic) and stored at least three feet away from the house.
Electrical cords and appliances, especially those that produce heat, are also something to watch for. When checking your home, look for any cords that are frayed or show signs of damage, but also look for ones that are bent at angles or have objects over them (wrapped around a nail, under a rolling chair, etc.). There is a high probability of damage, even if none is showing.
Do not overload outlets, which includes using multiple power strips together. When appliances are not in use, unplug them. Even when off, they will continue to draw power while plugged in. This can also be beneficial to your electrical bill.
Remember, the ones that produce heat are the most dangerous. This is partly because they draw more power, but also because of the heat they produce. So space heaters should be kept away from walls, and not left unattended. Dryers should be kept clean, having their hoses vacuumed out about every two years, and the lint traps cleaned out daily, if not after every load. Dryer sheets can create a waxy buildup on the trap that may not be visible, so it can be useful to periodically run the trap under the faucet and make sure water goes through. If it does not, clean with a toothbrush to clear out. Dry the trap well before returning to the dryer.
It is very unlikely, but not impossible, for spontaneous combustion to occur in a closed dryer with some moisture left, so when the load is done, open the dryer door, even if you are not yet ready to remove the load.
What if despite all your best efforts, fire breaks out? If it is a grease fire originating from you cooking, immediately place a lid over the pan to take away the oxygen. Turn off the heat unless the flames prevent you from doing so safely. There is a British PSA making the rounds on the internet saying to wet a rag and place it over pan. Do not do this! While the ad is correct that you should not throw water on the fire, the wet rag is much more dangerous than a lid.
You can also throw baking soda on the fire, which will suffocate the flames, but not all white powders are created equal, and flour can explode. The pan lid is really best.
Fire extinguishers are also really good, and surprisingly effective. Look for one that can be used on both grease and electrical fires.
If you have an electrical fire, again, do not throw water on it, since water conducts electricity. Unplugging the item would make water safe, but unplugging it might get you shocked as well, so it would be better to have someone go to the fuse box and cut power that way.
If the fire is too big to fight, get low where the air is cooler and cleaner, and leave the house. You and your family or roommates should have a prearranged meeting place so you can easily tell if there is anyone still in the home. Along with setting the place, plan so that you also know the exits, and how easy it is to get out a window if necessary. One good drill is to blindfold yourself and see if you can crawl from the bedroom to the door—how well would you know your way if smoke obscured your vision? Touch doors with the back of your hand, and if you feel heat go the other way.
Obviously, you should have working smoke detectors that you can hear.
If you suspect a gas leak at all, do not turn on any lights, or flashlights, or even a cell phone, as the spark could ignite an explosion. Just get out first, and then call for help.
Also, you know this from school, but if you catch fire, stop, drop, and roll. You don’t need to be scared if you can stay smart.
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