Unfortunately, reports of home fire incidents are a common occurrence during the winter season. A home fire can be devastating to households who may not only experience property damage, but also the loss of sentimental, irreplaceable belongings.

To avoid being left out in the cold by a home fire, the American Red Cross strongly advises homeowners to:

• Follow the three feet rule. Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths. Keep children, pets and anything flammable at least three feet away from heating equipment. Turn off portable space heaters when you leave the room and when you go to sleep.

• Use gas wisely. Four percent of Americans admit to having used a gas stove to heat their home. Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.

• Use flashlights, not candles. Use battery operated flashlights or lanterns instead of candles during power outages.

• Sound the alarm. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test smoke alarms once a month. If they’re not working, change the batteries and test again.

• Plan and practice. Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home. Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside in case of fire. Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year and at different times of the day.

Source: The American Red Cross

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