McALESTER

FIRE

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HOME

FIRE SAFETY

INSPECTION

 McALESTER FIRE DEPARTMENT

Home Fire Safety Self-Inspection Checklist

The following checklist will help you determine potential hazards in your home.

ANo@ responses provide a guide to what precautions need to be taken. 

SMOKE DETECTORS

! Have you installed smoke detectors inside every sleeping area and on each floor?

! Do you test your smoke detector(s) every month?

! Do you replace your batteries at least once a year? (We recommend twice a year.)

! Do you replace your smoke detectors when they are 10 years old?

HEATING AND COOKING

! If you have a fireplace, is a screen always placed in front of it?

! Do you change your forced air filters regularly, and is  the venting clean?

! Are furnaces and wood burning stoves in good repair and located away from combustible walls and ceilings?

! Do you have the fireplace chimney cleaned and checked periodically?

! Do you make sure combustibles are not stored near the stove, heater or fireplace?

! Do your children keep a safe distance from flame and heat sources?

! Do you keep a properly fitting pan lid nearby to use in the event of a grease fire?

! Do you turn handles inward, so pots and pans won=t be pulled or knocked off the stove?

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

! Are appliances checked periodically for good operating condition?

! Are all electrical outlets, switches, and junction boxes properly covered with cover plates, and is the electrical system safe from any apparent shock and/or other hazards?

! Are circuit breakers/fuses labeled so as to identify the area protected?

! Are extension cords used for temporary use only, and are they of sufficient size?

            (Large appliances should be plugged directly into an electrical receptacle.)

! Are all electrical cords and wires in good condition? ( No cuts, frays, splices, or other damage on cord.)

! Are you careful to not run extension cords under rugs or over hooks and nails?

! If multiple items need to be plugged in, is a power tap utilized with a built-in circuit breaker and is the power tap plugged directly into a permanently installed receptacle?

M.F.D. HOME FIRE SAFETY CHECKLIST CONT.

FIRE ESCAPE PLAN

! Does your family have a fire escape plan prepared?

! Is your escape plan posted and regularly practiced?

! Does each bedroom have two exits?

! Do all family members know how to dial 911 for fire, police or medical emergencies?

! Do you show your babysitter the escape routes from your home and review 911 procedures with her/him?

! Are all exit ways unobstructed & free from the storage of combustible materials?

! Does your family (and babysitter) know the first rule in the fire emergencies: get everyone out fast and don=t go back inside?

! Do you have and know how to use a fire extinguisher?

! Can your address and/or house numbers be clearly seen by emergency responders?

HOUSEKEEPING

! Do you generally practice good housekeeping habits in keeping work areas, the garage, heater closets, etc. free of potential fire hazards?

! Is your kitchen vent-a-hood clean and properly maintained?

! Is the lint collector on your clothes dryer inspected and cleaned before use?

! Are flammable liquids stored in safety cans and kept away from heat and children?

! Is paint kept in tightly closed metal containers?

! Have you made it a rule to never use flammable liquids for cleaning clothes or starting fires?

! Are oily rags kept in a tightly sealed container?

SMOKING HABITS

! Are all matches and lighters kept out of children=s reach?

! Is ANo Smoking in Bed@ a rule of the house?

! Is your family aware that ashtrays should never be emptied into waste baskets?

! Are there plenty of large, safe ash trays throughout the house?

! Do you check for smoldering cigarette butts in the furniture?

Every ANo@ answer shows where your safety precautions fall short. 

Take ActionCNOW.

      If the McAlester Fire Department can be of any assistance, please call us at 423-6709.