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Byron Fire Safety & Education

Would you know what to do if a fire started in your home? Would your kids? Take the time now to review fire safety facts and tips so your family will be prepared in the event of a fire emergency in your home.

Cooking

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries.
When cooking:

Don’t use the oven or stovetop if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol. Stay alert!
Whenever you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling foods, stay in the kitchen.
Check food regularly when you are simmering, baking or roasting. Stay in the kitchen while cooking and use a timer.
Keep anything flammable away from you stovetop, including pot holders and long sleeves.

Heating

Heating is the second leading cause of home fires. Stay safe by:

Keeping anything flammable – paper, clothing, bedding, drapes, rugs – at least 3 feet from any space heater, stove, or fireplace.
Turning off heaters and ensuring fireplace embers are extinguished before leaving the room.
Placing space heaters on level, nonflammable surfaces, such as ceramic tile, not on rugs or carpet.
Keeping children and pets away from space heaters.
Purchasing space heater models with automatic shut off function if the heater tips over.

Smoke Alarms

About three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan, providing early warning and reducing your risk of dying in a fire.

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas, on the ceiling or high on the wall.
Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen, at least 10 feet from the stove, to reduce false alarms.
Use special alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers for people who are hard of hearing or deaf.
Test smoke alarms monthly.
Replace batteries annually, and change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector at the same time.
Replace smoke alarms that are 10 or more years old.

Other top causes of fire including smoking, electrical problems, and burning candles. To minimize these risks:

Do not smoke or allow others to smoke inside the house.
Check all electrical cords and replace any that are frayed or have bare wires.
Switch to flameless candles. If you do burn real candles, never leave them unattended.
Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet.

Your Escape Plan

Once the smoke alarm sounds, a fire can spread quickly, leaving only a minute or two to escape. That's why it's so important to have a home escape plan. Start by drawing a map for your home and:

Plan two ways to escape from each room.
Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
Identify secondary routes – a window onto an adjacent roof or a collapsible ladder from upper-story windows.
If you live in a multi-story building, plan to use the stairs – never the elevator.
Designate an outside meeting place a safe distance from the house where everyone should meet.
Practice getting out with your eyes closed, crawling low to the floor and keeping your mouth covered.
Practice closing doors behind you.
Practice how to “stop, drop and roll” if your clothes catch on fire.
Practice testing door handles to see if they are hot before opening them.
Teach children never to hide during a fire, and how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.

Fire Extinguishers

For home use, the National Fire Protection Association recommends a multi-purpose device large enough to put out a small fire but not so heavy that it will be difficult to handle. Review the instructions once a year. If you need to use a fire extinguisher, there won’t be time to learn how to do it. To use a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS:

Pull the pin.
Aim low at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handle slowly.
Sweep the nozzle side to side.
Always put your safety first; if you are not confident in your ability to use a fire extinguisher, get out and call 9-1-1.

Fire Safety Presentations

The Byron Fire Department offers fire safety presentations catering to a variety of audiences and communities. Whether you live in a high-rise building or a single-family home, our department can provide a fire safety presentation that is right for you. Our experts will explain why you need a smoke alarm on every level of your home and why you need a home fire escape plan, among other topics.

Free Smoke Alarms

The Byron Fire Department provides smoke alarms free of charge to families in need. If you do not have a working smoke alarm, please call 478‑956‑3611.

Home Safety Inspection

For a free home fire safety inspection call 478‑956‑361 or fill out the form below.

Byron Municipal Complex