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• Make sure everyone is familiar with the sound of the smoke detectors' alarm.

• Plan escape routes. Know at least two ways out of each room. Agree on a meeting place outside your home where all residents will gather after they escape. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.

• Remove obstructions from doors and windows needed for escape.

• Make sure everyone in the household can unlock doors and windows quickly, even in the dark. Windows or doors with security bars should be equipped with quick release devices and everyone in the household should know how to use them.

• When an alarm sounds, leave immediately. Go directly to your meeting place and call the fire department from a neighbor's phone.

• Once you are out, stay out.  Never go back inside a burning building!

    Curiosity about fire is natural for children, setting fires is not. Is child fire play and fire setting a problem? The NFPA reports trends in fires set by young children in the U.S. annually resulted in:
 

• 95,000 fires

• Over 300 deaths

• Over 3,000 injuries

• $300 million in property damage

Is Juvenile Arson a Problem?

    The FBI Crime Index reports that juvenile and adult arson cause an average of 560,000 fires, 750 deaths, 3,700 injuries, $1.5 billion in property loss.

• 55% of all arson arrests in the U.S. are children under 18

• Nearly half of these are age 15 and under

• 6.8% are under the age of 10

The crime of arson has the highest rate of juvenile involvement.

The first step in solving the problem is to better understand who and why children set fires.

How To Identify a Fire setter:

Curiosity/Experimental - Little Risk:

• Are boys and girls ages 2 - 10 (sometimes younger)

• Lack understanding of the destructive potential of fire

• Have ready access to lighters. Matches or open flame

• Are left unsupervised

• Mostly boys of all ages

• Have set two or more fires

• Use fire to express anger, sadness, frustration and powerless feelings related to stress or major changes in their life.

• May not understand the consequences of uncontrolled fire

• Will continue to set fires until needs are identified and met

• Also known as "crisis" or "cry for help" fire setters

• Usually teenagers with a history of fire setting, truancy, antisocial behavior or drug/alcohol abuse

• Fires set with the intent to destroy, or as acts of vandalism or malicious mischief.

• Targets are typically schools, open fields, dumpsters or abandoned buildings

• May involve restitution and criminal punishment if determined

• Fires may be random, ritualized or with specific intent to destroy property (arson)

• Chronic history of school behavioral, social, emotional or physical problems

• Boys or girls, all ages

• Set many fires

    Everyone in the community should be involved. This includes parents and caregivers, the local fire and police departments, mental health counselors, social services, juvenile justice, schools, churches, medical community, youth service workers, public and private business, insurance industry and other community leaders.
 

• To prevent curiosity fire setting in the first place, provide fire safety education for children and youth throughout the year.

• Organize a coordinated, community base, screening/intervention program

• Identify and provide for the child’s and family’s needs (fire safety education, counseling, social services, etc.)

• Assist parents/caregivers and all who work with children to better understand children’s involvement with fire (when and where to go for help)

• Teach young children that fire and fire tools are for grown-ups to use.

• Keep matches and lighters out of reach, in high ideally locked cabinets.

• Supervise small children.

• Ask young children to tell you when they find matches and lighters and put them away.

• Teach older children proper techniques in using fire and fire tools - how to safely strike a match or light a candle with supervision.

• Praise your child for practicing responsible behavior and showing respect for fire.

• Set a good example, use matches, lighters and fire carefully - keep your home fire safe.

• ...You know a fire setter child in need of assistance...

• ... You want more information about child fire setting and juvenile arson.

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Fire Safety Checklist:

Fire Safety Checklist By The U.S. Fire Administration

Take a few minutes to walk through your house and use this checklist to make sure your home is fire safe!

• Use heaters only in well ventilated rooms.

• Place heaters where they will not be knocked over easily.

• Do not use heaters to dry cloths or other items.

• Keep heaters a safe distance from curtains, furniture and all combustibles.

Kerosene Heaters:

	Be sure that kerosene heaters are legal in your area.
	Fill only with K-1 kerosene and never use gasoline or camp stove fuel.
	It is recommended to refuel kerosene heaters outdoors and when they are cool.

Woodstoves and Fireplaces:

	Only used seasoned wood and never use green wood, artificial wood or trash.
	Always use a protective screen.
	Clean interiors, hearths and chimneys yearly.

Safe Cooking Practices:

	Do not leave food unattended on the stove.
	Turn pot handles in so children or passers-by do not pull pots off of a hot burner and get burned themselves.
	Keep dangling clothing away from burners.
	Keep appliances clean and free from grease and crumbs.
	Keep curtains and other combustibles away from the stove.
	Make sure the stove is off and small appliances are unplugged before going to bed.

Smoke Detectors:

	Place smoke detectors in every bedroom and on every floor.
	Test batteries monthly and change batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and the fall.
	Place smoke detectors at least 4 to 6 inches from the wall and corners.

Electrical Wiring:

	Replace wiring if it is frayed or cracked.
	Do not place wiring under rugs, over nails or in high traffic areas.
	Avoid overloading outlets and make sure they stay cool to the touch.
	Keep covers over electric plates and avoid exposed wiring.

Electric Space Heaters:

	Plug heaters directly into the wall socket, not into an extension cord.
	Unplug heaters when they are not being used.

Safe Smoking Habits:

	Never smoke in bed.
	Keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
	Always attend burning cigarettes.

Children And Fire Safety:

	Keep lighters and matches away from children.
	Teach children how to call 911 for emergency assistance.
	Use safety plugs in outlets.

Home Fire Escape Plan:

	Have an escape plan and make sure all family members know it.
	Practice the plan every six months.
	Keep emergency numbers, a whistle and a flashlight near the telephone.
	Identify an outside meeting place and never return into a burning building.
	Know how to call for 911 emergency assistance.
	If you are disabled, think about what you should do I case of fire, and talk it over with others. The fire department can help you make a practical escape plan. Include other household members in your plan.

Live Near an Exit:

• Keep a fire extinguisher handy, especially in the kitchen.

• Consider installing residential fire sprinklers.

    A seldom recognized part of America’s fire problem is motor vehicle fires. Motor vehicle fires can be dangerous and cause toxic gases. Automobiles, trucks and other motor vehicles are made up of many synthetic materials that emit harmful, if not deadly, gases when they burn. A main by-product of fires is a lethal concentration of carbon monoxide, which is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas.

    Fire can cause fatal or debilitating burn injuries. A vehicle fire can generate heat upwards of 1500 degrees F. Keep in mind that water boils at 212 degrees F, and most food is cooked at temperatures below 500 degree F. Flames from a vehicle fire can shoot out distances of 10 feet or more.

    Parts of vehicles can burst from heat and then shoot debris great distances. Bumper and hatchback door struts, two-piece tire rims, magnesium wheels, drive shafts, grease seals, axle and engine parts all can become lethal shrapnel. Vehicle fires may also cause air bags to deploy.

    Although relatively rare, gasoline tanks on motor vehicles can rupture and spray flammable fuel, posing a clear potential for serious injury. In even more extraordinary instances, gasoline tanks have been known to explode. Hazardous materials, such as battery acid, can cause injury even without burning.

    Vehicles fire are so dangerous that firefighters wear full protective fire resistant clothing and self contained breathing apparatus to keep them safe. They also have the ability to quickly put out vehicle fires with large amounts of water or other extinguishing agents. You do not have these safety advantages so use extra caution. Motor vehicle fire can be dangerous.

FACTS:

	Nearly one out of four fires involve motor vehicles.
	One out of every 8 fire deaths results from motor vehicle fires.
	Approximately 550 people are killed and 2,100 civilians and 1,200 firefighters are injured each year from motor vehicle fires.

What To Do When There Is A Motor Vehicle Fire:

	Get yourself and all others out and away from the vehicle. If the vehicle is in a garage or other structure, exit immediately.
	After you are a safe distance from the vehicle, call the fire department at 911. Tell them the location of the fire.
	Remain away from the vehicle, do not attempt to get back into a burning vehicle to retrieve personal property.
	Never put yourself in danger using a fire extinguisher. If you do use a fire extinguisher, only do so from a safe distance and always have a means to get away.
	It is recommended that you use a fire extinguisher approved for use on a class "B" and class "C" fires.
	Do not open the hood or trunk if you suspect a fire under it. Air could rush in, enlarging the fire, leading to injury.

• For more information, please contact the:

• United States Fire Administration (USFA)

• Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA)

• 16825 South Seton Avenue

• Emmitsbburg, MD 21727

• http://www.usfa.fema.gov

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Safe Living In Your Manufactured Home:

• Smoke Detectors

• Fire Extinguishers

• Escapes Routes

• Carefully maintained heating and electrical systems.

• Knowing what to do in case of a fire, flood, tornado or other disaster.

    The American Red Cross has developed safety check list to help you make sure that you and your family live in safely in your manufactured home.

Fire Safety:

	Be sure you have properly operating smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
	Insure your personal property. Shop around for a company that best meets your needs for renter’s or homeowner’s insurance.
	Plan, with your family, at least two escapes routes from your manufactured home.
	Practice fire drills regularly, using a smoke detector as a signal to start the drill. Follow your escape plan.
	Keep matches and lighters away from small children. Children tend to be curious about fire and tend to hide when frightened. Fire drills are most important for children between the ages of 2 and 12.
	Be sure your heating and electrical systems are properly maintained and in good working order.
	Carefully follow the instructions on all appliances and heating units, taking care not to overload your electrical system.
	Be especially careful that your holiday decorations are safely displayed.
	Store important documents, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and insurance papers in a fire proof box or in the refrigerator or rent a safety deposit box at your local bank.
	Make an itemized list of your personal property, including furniture, clothing, appliances and other valuables. Keep this list up to date and store it along with other important documents.

In Case Of Fire:

	Always crawl close to the floor in smoke.
	Feel each door for heat with the back of your hand for heat before opening it.
	If your cloths catch on fire, stop, drop to the floor and roll over and over and over again to put out the flames.
	Call the fire department from a neighbor's phone. Leave you manufactured home before calling for help.
	Contact your American Red Cross for assistance to meet your emergency needs, clothing, a temporary place to stay or assistance in replacing lost medication.

Floods:

	If your manufactured home is located in a flood hazard area, be prepared to go to a safe place on high ground when flood or flash flood warnings are issued for your area.
	Most standard residential insurance policies do not cover flood loss. In flood-prone communities, the National Flood Insurance Program makes flood insurance available for manufactured homes on foundations. See your insurance broker for details.

Tornado Safety:

	Be sure to keep a transistor radio or weather service radio with working batteries.
	Pay close attention to weather reports. Know the difference between a watch (when conditions are right for a severe weather event) and a warning (when severe weather is occurring or is imminent).
	Plan ahead for where you are to go during severe weather, for instance, a storm cellar, a community building or relative’s or friend’s basement.
	When a tornado warning has been issued, leave your manufactured home immediately. Go to your pre-planned safe place or lie down in a low area with your hands covering the back of you head and neck.
	Near the main exit door, keep a family safety kit containing a change of clothes for each family member, a blanket, a first aid kit and a flashlight with good batteries.
	Be sure your manufactured home is installed in accordance with the manufacture’s instructions and all applicable state and county regulations.

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Smoke Detectors:

What You Need To Know:

• Simply replace the battery once per year. To make it easy to remember change the battery when you change the time on

your clock.

• If your smoke detector starts making a chirping noise, replace the battery immediately and test.

• Keep the smoke detector clean. Dust can interfere with their operation so vacuum them regularly

    That means the smoke detector is doing it’s job. However, do not disable your smoke detector if it goes off due to cooking. Instead of disabling your smoke detector just clear the air. You may in the end have to relocated your smoke detector.

    Smoke detectors will last any where from eight to ten years, after which they should be replaced. They do wear out. As a reminder take a permanent maker and put the installation date inside the lid to the smoke detector. Some smoke detectors on the market come with a ten year battery. These smoke detectors are designed to be replaced as a whole unit.

• Make sure the heater is mechanically sound

• An emergency shut off if it tips over

• Good mechanical working condition

• No carbon buildup on the exhaust

• No leaks in the fuel system

• Provide good ventilation

• Think about where the heater is located

• There should be adequate airflow to feed the fire, and take away the fumes.

• Operate the heater safely:

• Keep flammable objects, children and pets away from the heater

• Don’t store heater fuel in the house or in unapproved containers

• Don’t fill the heater while it’s on or hot

• Don’t use fuel other than kerosene

• Don’t fill the heater in the house

• Don’t overfill the heater - cold fuel can expand and overflow

• Look at these safety equipment issues:

• Check to see that your stove or fireplace is of good quality and structurally sound.

• Insure that it has an UL safety certification

• Use a glass or metal safety screen to control sparks an embers

• Clean or inspect your chimney annually

• Make sure the fire is out and the damper is closed before you go to sleep

• Do not put hot ashes in a combustible container

• Burn your stove hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce creosote buildup

• Keep flammable materials away from your stove or fireplace

• Follow product safety directions if you burn synthetic logs.

• Don’t use flammable liquids to start your stove or fireplace

• Don’t burn charcoal indoors

• Don’t use a large amount of paper to build a roaring fire - it could start a chimney fire

• Don’t put flammable objects on the mantel

• Don’t close a damper with hot ashes in the fireplace - it will heat the fire again and force toxic carbon monoxide into

your house

• Look at these equipment safety issues:

• Have your furnace inspected regularly for safe operation

• Insure cutoffs and controls work properly

• Leave repairs to a qualified specialist

• Inspect the area around your furnace for damage from inadequate insulation

• Maintain good ventilation

• Check flue pipes and pipe seams for holes, cracks, soot and leaks

• Inspect the chimney for loose bricks or cracks

• Keep trash and other materials away from the heating system

• Be sure every level of your home has a working smoke detector

• Use carbon monoxide detectors in your home

• Develop and practice an emergency evacuation plan

• If there is a hydrant on your property, keep it clear of debris

• Contact your local Fire Department if you have any question about fire safety

• Do not discard hot ashes inside or near your home. Put them in a metal container well away from your home.

• Do not use your range or oven to heat your home.

• Do not overload electrical circuits or extension cords when you use electrical heaters. Only use the type which has a safety

cutoff switch in the event they are knocked over.

• Do not use electric heaters in damp or wet areas

• Do not try to thaw frozen pipes with an open flame. Use hot water or a hand held hair dryer.

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To Reduce Holiday Fires, The U.S. Fire Administration Offers Tips On Using Christmas Trees, Candles And Decorations

Washington, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) urge the nation's families to take steps to make their holidays "fire safe" this year. Statistics show that the incidence of house fires increases during the winter holiday season - fueled in part by holiday decorations, candles and Christmas trees.

"We see that fires caused by candles increase fourfold during the holidays, and each year some 200 house fires occur where Christmas trees are the initial source of ignition," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "Preventing these fires helps keep the holiday season joyful for this nation's families."

All told, house fires during the winter holiday season kill about 500 and injure about 2,000 people, and cause more than $500 million in damage.

But, R. David Paulison, head of the USFA, which is part of FEMA, said Americans don't have to give up their holiday decorations in the interest of safety. There are some easy, commonsense things people can do to reduce their risk of a fire, he said. The USFA recommends: Selecting a fresh Christmas tree that is kept in water at all times. Needles on fresh trees should be green and should not fall off easily. Don't put your tree up too early or leave it up longer than two weeks. Dried out Christmas trees can ignite easily and boost a fire by spreading it rapidly to nearby combustible materials. Placing your Christmas tree in a safe place, away from heat sources such as a fireplace or heat vent. Maintaining your holiday lights. Inspect your lights before you use them to ensure they don't have frayed wires, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets or excessive wear. Only use lighting that is listed by an approved testing laboratory and don't leave the lights on when you're not home. Avoiding overloading electrical outlets. Don't link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe. Periodically check the wires. They should not be warm to the touch. Using only nonflammable decorations that are placed away from heat vents and if you're using an artificial tree, make sure that it's flame retardant. Avoiding using candles. If you do use candles, ensure they are in a stable holder and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Do not leave lit candles unattended, never put candles on a Christmas tree and never leave the house with candles burning.

"It's also important to know that fires caused by children increase during the holiday season. According to our National Fire Incident Reporting System, children will cause close to 60 house fires a day in mid-December, with another sharp increase on New Year's Day," said Paulison. "Parents should take precautions to prevent such tragedies."

More information is available on the FEMA Web site at www.fema.gov and on the USFA Web site at www.usfa.fema.gov. A video clip of a Christmas tree catching fire, courtesy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, can be viewed at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/public/factsheets/treefir.shtm.

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