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

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

By Alexandra Churchill June 25, 2015
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wire-how-to-1-004-mmd110286.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gaardner
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."
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wire-how-to-1-004-mmd110286.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gaardner

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.

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Sign #2: Your Appliances Are Not Certified

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

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Sign #3: The Kitchen Is Unclean

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Credit: Johnny Miller

Keep cooktops and ovens clean to prevent grease fires.

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Sign #4: Kitchen Curtains Are Too Close

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Keep curtains away from cooktops and ovens.

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Sign #5: Extension Cords Are Everywhere

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

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Sign #6: Too Many Cords, One Socket

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

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Sign #7: The Wiring Is Out of Whack

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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.

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Sign #8: There's Lint Buildup in the Clothes Dryer

brush-dryer-lint-013-d111824.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gardner

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.

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Sign #9: There's Clutter in Hot Spots

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

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Sign #10: Flammable Liquids Run Overeth

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Credit: Burcu Avsar

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.

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Sign #11: Dirty Rags Are Lying Around

kitchen sink organizer

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.

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Sign #12: Flammable Liquids Are in a Bad Spot

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Credit: Formula Z/S

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

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Sign #13: The Rug Is in Front of the Fireplace

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

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Sign #14: You Last Cleaned the Chimney When... ?

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

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Sign #15: The Space Heater Is Near...

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Credit: William Abranowicz

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.

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Sign #16: Smoking Litter Goes Unchecked

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

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Sign #17: Indoor Electrical Devices Are Outside

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

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Sign #18: Fire Starters Are in Easy Reach

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Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

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Sign #19: You Don't Have a Plan

ht-fire-017-f-0611mld106657.jpg
Credit: Tara Donne

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.

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Sign #20: You Don't Know What to Use

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

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    1 of 20
    2 of 20 Sign #2: Your Appliances Are Not Certified
    3 of 20 Sign #3: The Kitchen Is Unclean
    4 of 20 Sign #4: Kitchen Curtains Are Too Close
    5 of 20 Sign #5: Extension Cords Are Everywhere
    6 of 20 Sign #6: Too Many Cords, One Socket
    7 of 20 Sign #7: The Wiring Is Out of Whack
    8 of 20 Sign #8: There's Lint Buildup in the Clothes Dryer
    9 of 20 Sign #9: There's Clutter in Hot Spots
    10 of 20 Sign #10: Flammable Liquids Run Overeth
    11 of 20 Sign #11: Dirty Rags Are Lying Around
    12 of 20 Sign #12: Flammable Liquids Are in a Bad Spot
    13 of 20 Sign #13: The Rug Is in Front of the Fireplace
    14 of 20 Sign #14: You Last Cleaned the Chimney When... ?
    15 of 20 Sign #15: The Space Heater Is Near...
    16 of 20 Sign #16: Smoking Litter Goes Unchecked
    17 of 20 Sign #17: Indoor Electrical Devices Are Outside
    18 of 20 Sign #18: Fire Starters Are in Easy Reach
    19 of 20 Sign #19: You Don't Have a Plan
    20 of 20 Sign #20: You Don't Know What to Use

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