Trailer home fire during an exercise at the Charlotte-Douglas Airport in 2011
Deaths from fires and burns are the fifth most common cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States (Center for Disease Control, Atlanta) and the third leading cause of fatal home injury. Many residential fire-related deaths remain preventable and continue to pose a significant public health problem. Smoke and toxic gases can be as deadly as heat and flames. Actually, the majority of people die or get injured in fires because of exposure to hazardous smoke and toxic gases and not actual burns. In addition, smoke often obscures vision and thereby decreases the ability of fire victims to escape.
Before a Fire
There are many things you can do to help prevent fires in your home as well as to prepare how to respond to one.
- Create and practice a fire escape plan
- Clear lint trap in your dryer before each laundry cycle
- Do not leave candles unattended or in small areas in close proximity to flammable materials
- Do not smoke indoors
- Be aware of and replace frayed wires on old, damaged appliances
- Exercise caution when using space heaters- keep combustible objects at least three feet away from heaters
- Install and test smoke alarms
- Safeguard important documents
During a Fire
- Crawl along the floor towards the exit
- Feel doorknobs before opening doors- if they are hot or you see smoke coming around the door, choose a different exit
- If you do open a door, do so slowly and be ready to close it quickly if a fire is present on the other side
- If you catch fire, stop, drop, and roll immediately
For more detailed information on how to prevent home fires, what to do in the event of a fire in your home, reference material to follow after a fire strikes, and more fire safety tips, visit FEMA's Home Fire Safety page.