Fire Safety Checklist: 20 Warning Signs Your Home Is at Risk

Think your home is safe from a fire? Think again. Your household can expect at least five fires in an average lifetime, according to the National Fire Protection Association

. At the national level, 360,000+ household fires are reported each year, and nearly all of them are avoidable with a few simple precautions outlined in "

Martha Stewart'

s Homekeeping Handbook

."

Sign #1: Your Electric Kitchen Appliances Are Unclean

Make sure they are clean and that their cords and plugs are in good working order. Replace frayed or worn-out cords and plugs.

Ensure all appliances are certified by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (this will be indicated on the packaging).

Keep cooktops and ovens clean to prevent grease fires.

Keep curtains away from cooktops and ovens.

Discard frayed or broken extension cords and do not run them under rugs or furniture or nail them into place.

Don’t overload circuits by plugging too many appliances into one socket.

Never replace a broken fuse with a fuse of different amperage. Frequently blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers can signal that wiring is inadequate. Consult an electrician.

Clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer after every use -- lint is the most common cause of dryer fires. Once a year, remove lint from the hose attached to the back of the dryer.

Remove clutter -- especially anything flammable -- from around the furnace and water heater.

Store gasoline and flammable liquids in airtight containers -- they emit gases that can ignite when they come in contact with a spark or pilot light.

Dispose of oily rags (such as those used to oil furniture or wipe up motor oil) after each use in accordance with your community's sanitation guidelines. They are a fire hazard because as the oil ages, it oxidizes and produces heat, which can lead to spontaneous combustion.

Never store flammable liquids beneath stairways or near exits: If they catch fire, an escape route will be eliminated.

Put a spark screen in front of fireplaces and never lay a rug close to a fireplace.

Have your chimney cleaned when there is a buildup of 1/4 inch of creosote.

Keep space heaters and the like away from combustible materials, such as curtains, upholstery, bedding, and rugs. Never use one to dry clothing or other combustibles.

If someone smokes cigarettes in your home, dampen the butts before throwing them away.

Never use electrical devices outdoors unless they are designed for that purpose.

Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

Learn to extinguish fires! Place a fire extinguisher in any area of the house where a fire hazard exists: the kitchen, the garage, the top of the cellar stairs, and even in the bedroom. Teach everyone in your household how to use one.

Never fight electrical or grease fires with water or baking soda. Use an extinguisher.