Fire Prevention
Home Fire Safety Inspection Checklist
A fire can occur in any part of your home. Use this checklist to make a safety check of your home.
(To print this checklist click the printer icon on your browser).
Smoking Habits:
r Are all matches and lighters kept out of children’s reach?
r Is “NO SMOKING IN BED” a rule of the house?
r Is your family aware that ash trays should NEVER be emptied into waste
baskets?
r Are there plenty of large, safe ash trays throughout the house?
r Do you check for smoldering cigarette butts in the furniture?
Electrical Hazards:
r Are appliances checked periodically for good operating conditions?
r Are you careful not to run extension cords under rugs or over hooks and nails?
r When using extension cords for appliances, does the gauge of both cords
match?
r Are electrical outlets overloaded?
Housekeeping:
r Do you keep rubbish cleaned out of attics, garages and yards?
r Is paint kept in tightly closed metal containers?
r Are flammable liquids stored in safety cans and kept away from heat and
children?
r Have you make it a rule to NEVER use flammable liquids for cleaning clothes
or start fires?
r Are oily rags kept in a tightly sealed container?
r Is your clothes dryer vent clean and properly installed?
Heating and Cooking:
r If you have a fireplace, is a screen always placed in front of it?
r Is the filter for your forced air heater changed yearly and the venting cleaned?
r Are furnaces and wood burning stoves in good repair and located away from
combustible walls and ceilings?
r Do you have the fireplace chimney cleaned and checked periodically?
r Do you make sure combustibles are not stored near the stove, heater or
fireplace?
r Do your children keep a safe distance from flame and heat sources?
Smoke Alarms:
r Have you installed a smoke alarm outside every sleeping area or in every
bedroom on each floor?
r Do you test your smoke alarm(s) every month?
r Do you replace the battery of your battery operated smoke alarm every year?
Fire Escape Plan:
r Does your family have a fire escape plan prepared?
r Is your escape plan posted and regularly practiced?
r Does each bedroom have TWO exits?
r Do you have a meeting place so you will know everyone is outside and safe?
r Are emergency response numbers posted on all telephones?
r Is your address on or near your telephone?
r Do all family members know how to dial 9-1-1 for fire, police or medical
emergencies?
r Do you show your babysitter/guests your home escape routes and review
9-1-1 with her/him?
r Does your family (and babysitter) know the first rule in fire emergencies: GET
EVERYONE OUT FAST AND DON’T GO BACK INSIDE?
Fire Extinguishers:
r Do you have a UL or FM approved fire extinguisher in your home?
r Do you take it out two times a year and shake it to keep the powder from
packing?
Outside:
r Have all dried grass cuttings, tree trimmings and weeds been removed from your property?
r Can you see your house number from the street?
For additional information on home fire and injury prevention contact your local fire department.
