Marquette City Fire Department Home Fire Safety Checklist

Cooking Safety

___Yes ___No Do you always stay in the kitchen when food is cooking on the stove?

___Yes ___No Are stove tops and counters clean and uncluttered?

___Yes ___No Are there pot holders within easy reach of the stove?

___Yes ___No Are pot handles turned inward so they can't be bumped?

___Yes ___No Are curtains and other things that can burn well away from the stove?

___Yes ___No Is there a "kid-free" zone of three feet around the stove when you are cooking?

Heating Safety

___Yes ___No Are portable space heaters always turned off when you leave the room or go to sleep?

___Yes ___No If space heaters are used in your home, are they at least three feet away from anything else that can burn, including people, furniture, and pets?

___Yes ___No Does your fireplace have a sturdy screen to catch sparks?

___Yes ___No Has your chimney been inspected and cleaned during the past year?

___Yes ___No Has your furnace been serviced by a professional in the past year?

___Yes ___No Are propane tanks and other fuels stored outside your home?

Electrical Safety

___Yes ___No Are extension cords used safely?

___Yes ___No Are electrical cords in good condition, without cracks or frayed areas?

___Yes ___No Are kitchen appliances - such as the coffee maker, toaster oven, and microwave - plugged into separate receptacle outlets?

Smoke Alarms/Home Fire Escape

___Yes ___No Does your home have working smoke alarms on every floor and inside or near all sleeping areas?

___Yes ___No Are the batteries working in all your smoke alarms?

___Yes ___No Are all the exits in your home clear of furniture, toys, and clutter?

___Yes ___No Does your family have a home fire escape plan that includes two exits, usually a door and a window, from each room?

___Yes ___No Has your family picked a safe place to meet outside after you exit your home?

___Yes ___No Have you and your family practiced a home fire drill within the last six months? (Why not do one tonight?)

___Yes ___No Do you know the fire department's emergency phone number, which should be called from a neighbor's, or nearby phone once you get outside)?

General Fire Safety

___Yes ___No Are ignition materials readily available to children in the Home? (Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.)

___Yes ___No Do you leave burning candles unattended? (Extinguish all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.)

___Yes ___No Do you need an additional smoke detector for your home? (The Marquette City Fire Department will supply and install one smoke detector per request for city residents.)

Did You Know?

· Cooking Fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries

· On average, there are 91,700 reported home fires each year associated with cooking equipment, killing 327 people and injuring 4,607.

· Heating fires are the second leading cause of home fires. During the months of December, January and February, heating is the leading cause of home fires.

· Most heating fires involve space heater, not central furnaces.

· On average, there are 38,000 home fires per year associated with wiring, switches, outlets, cords and other electrical equipment.

· Fixed wiring causes one third of home electrical distribution fires.

· In the US a home fire is reported to a fire department every 25-30 seconds.

· In the US 4 out of 5 fire deaths occur in the home.

· In the US someone is killed in a home fire every three hours.

** Remember, smoke detectors are the most effective early warning devices available. Having a working smoke detector in your home cuts your chance of dying in a fire nearly in half!

If you have any questions contact the Marquette Fire Department at (906) 228-0410.