MAULDIN FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Extinguishers

• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher in your kitchen (one rated for grease fires and one for electrical fires.)
• Keep fire extinguishers near the furnace, garage, and anywhere else a fire may start.
• Make sure every able-bodied member of the family is trained and familiar with the proper way to use the fire extinguishers.
• When using an extinguisher, make sure you have a clear way out in the event you can’t put out the fire.

Extinguishers are affordable, life-saving equipment for your home.

Flammables

• Keep matches, lighters and candles out of reach and out of sight of children.
• Never smoke in bed. Make sure that cigarettes/cigars are extinguished properly before dumping ashes.
• Avoid grease build-up in the kitchen and on appliances. Cooking fires are common.
• Don’t leave food cooking on stovetops unattended.
• Suffocate a stovetop fire with a pot/pan lid, cookie sheet, or close the oven door.
• Christmas trees are a primary fire concern. Consider using an artificial tree that is labeled “flame resistant.” If you do use an evergreen, water it daily to keep it from drying out.
• Make sure to inspect stringed lights and window ornaments annually for deterioration.
• Dispose of materials from fireplaces and grills in non-flammable containers.
• Never put children to sleep in “day” clothes. Fire-retardant sleepwear can make a difference in burn outcomes.

Electrical Safety and Heat Sources

• Make sure your electrical system is not being over-taxed. Do your lights dim or flicker when extra appliances are plugged in?
  Tip: If you have questions or concerns, consult a certified electrician.
• Inspect wires. If you find any worn or exposed wiring from appliances, discontinue their use immediately!
• Space heaters can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Make sure yours will automatically shut off if tipped over. Consult the operating instructions to make sure you are using space heaters, gas fireplaces, and other heat sources as intended by the manufacturer.
• Keep all flammable materials away from heat sources!
• Make sure space heaters and hot water heaters are inaccessible to young children.
• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually.
• Keep appliances unplugged when not in use.

Escaping a Fire

• Keep bedroom doors shut while sleeping. If you think there is a fire, feel the door and knob for heat before opening.
• Have an escape route for each area of the home and a designated meeting place outside.
• Draw a map—one that’s easy for all members of the family and visitors to understand.
• Teach children not to hide from fire or smoke and to go to firefighters who are there to help them.
• All children should be familiar with the ideas of “crawling underneath the smoke” to escape a fire.
• “Stop, drop and roll” is a safety principle that must be ingrained into children’s minds.
• Ensure that everyone is familiar with how to use an escape ladder if necessary.
• Make sure every sleeping room has two means of escape in the event of a fire. Windows provide a secondary means of escape.
• Ensure windows are in proper working order, are not painted shut, and guards are able to be disengaged.
• Everyone must understand that once you escape, you must never re-enter a burning building — no matter what you might have left behind.
• Call emergency responders (911) from a neighbor’s house.
• Make sure to practice your escape plan periodically. It will be easier to remember in case of an emergency.
• Young children should know their street address and last name and how to dial 911.
• Alert firefighters about your pets. Don’t rely on window or door decals to alert firefighters — such decals are often found to be outdated.

Tip: In the event your pet suffers from smoke inhalation, rush the animal to the vet.