Tips For Preventing In-Home Fires

Home fires are one of a homeowner's worst nightmares because they can cause significant fire and smoke damageand serious injury to those within the home. There are many common causes of house fires such as smoking, dysfunctional heating equipment, and electrical problems and the two biggest causes are cooking and dryer vent fires. It is important for homeowners to take the necessary preventative actions in regards to cooking and their dryer vents to help avoid the disaster of a house fire. The following tips will help you prevent in-home fires from the two biggest causes.

Cooking Fires

The leading cause of house fires in the United States is cooking related activity as the U.S. Fire Administration estimates that approximately 160,000 fires per year are started by stoves, ovens, deep fryers, grills, and other cooking implements. The following are some easy tips to prevent starting an in-home fire while cooking for your family:

• Do not leave your stove, oven, or grill unattended while in use
• Do not cook in loose clothing that could touch the stove or grill
• Clean all cooking surfaces before and after use
• Make sure the stove is off before leaving it unattended
• Install smoke detectors near the kitchen.

Dryer Vent Fires

The second leading cause of house fires in the United States is clothes dryer fires caused by lint that builds up in the dryer and dryer vent. According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, approximately 15,500 house fires are started by clothes dryers and result in millions of dollars worth of damage annually. The following tips will help you prevent house fires started by clothes dryers or dryer vents:

• Clean the dryer's lint trap before and after each use
• Make sure the dryer vent is free of debris
• Do not leave your home while the dryer is in use
• Clean out the hose that leads from the dryer to the vent at least twice a year
• Remove all dust and lint from the dryer and the vent
• Install smoke detectors near your laundry area.

By following these fire prevention tips, you can greatly reduce the risk of an in-home fire from the two leading causes of house fires in the United States.

Why Fire Extinguishers Are Required

Excerpt from NC State Fire Codes 2002 Edition

906.2 General requirements.

Fire extinguishers shall be selected, installed and maintained in accordance with this section and NFPA 10.   .

Fire Prevention Code - 2002 Edition

906.1 Where required.

Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed in the following locations.

1.     In Group A, B, E, F, H, I , M, R-1, R-2, R-4 and S occupancies.
2.     Within 30 feet (9144 mm) of commercial cooking equipment.
3.     In areas where flammable or combustible liquids are stored, used or dispensed.
4.    On each floor of structures under construction, except Group R-3 occupancies,
5.     Special-hazard areas, including but not limited to laboratories, computer rooms, and generator rooms where required by the code official.
6. Adult day care facilities in Group R-3 and R-4 occupancies shall have  at least one    2-A:10-B:C  fire extinguisher provided per floor with a maximum  of 40 feet travel distance to the extinguisher

904.11.5 Commercial cooking equipment.

Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided within a 30-foot (9144 mm) travel distance of commercial-type cooking equipment. Cooking equipment involving vegetable or animal oils and fats shall be protected by a Class K rated portable extinguisher. Top of Form

Conspicuous location.

Extinguishers shall be located in conspicuous locations where they will be readily accessible and immediately available for use. These locations shall be along normal paths of travel, unless the code official determines that the hazard presented indicates the need for placement away from normal paths of travel.

906.6 Unobstructed and unobscured.

Fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed

906.7 Hangers and brackets.

Hand-held portable fire extinguishers, not housed in cabinets, shall be installed on the hangers or brackets supplied. Hangers or brackets shall be securely anchored to the mounting surface in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions

906.9 Height above floor.

Portable fire extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds (18 kg) shall be installed so that its top is not more than 5 feet (1524 mm) above the floor. Hand-held portable fire extinguishers having a gross weight exceeding 40 pounds (18 kg) shall be installed so that its top is not more than 3.5 feet (1067 mm) above the floor. The clearance between the floor and the bottom of installed hand-held extinguishers shall not be less than 4 inches (102 mm).

These are merely excerpts.