Summer Fire Safety Checklist
Use this checklist to help determine if you and your house are fire safe. Every unchecked box points to a fire hazard. Contact your local fire department or the Virginia Department of Fire Programs if you have any questions about fire safety. You can find more fire safety checklists and seasonal safety tips at www.vafire.com.
Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Fire Safety Smoke alarms are installed and checked monthly. Batteries are changed at least twice a year. Five-pound ABC-rated fire extinguishers have been purchased and everyone knows how to use them. Escape routes are planned and practiced, making sure that several routes are available.
Refrigerators that smell of ammonia are repaired or replaced to ensure that it is not leaking highly explosive hydrogen gas. Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms are installed. Ovens and cooktops are never used as a heat source. Combustible materials, such as butane, gasoline, and propane are not stored in mobile homes or RVs.
Grilling Fire Safety
Grills are never used inside homes, vehicles, tents or campers - even if ventilation is provided. Grills are never used in garages or on wooden decks. Charcoal and charcoal grills are never stored inside when coals are freshly used. Grills are cleaned thoroughly before and after use to avoid grease buildup. Children are kept at least 3 feet away from the grilling area. Only proper grilling utensils and fire retardant mitts are used.
All residents and visitors know to get low and craw with their head 12 to 24 inches from the floor in case of a fire. Cigarettes and cigars are fully extinguished before disposing of them.
Grill hoses have been checked for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks and there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
Lighter fluid is never put directly on flames or on hot or warm coals.
Propane gas containers are kept upright.
Hot grills are never left unattended.
Mobile homes and recreation vehicles are kept clutter free and exits are not blocked.
Gas containers are never stored under or near the grill or indoors.
Loose clothing is never worn while grilling.
There is adequate space between mobile homes and nearby structures.
Flammable liquids, such as gasoline, are never stored or used near the grill.
Mobile homes and RVs are located a safe distance from power lines.
Filled propane containers are never stored in a hot car or a car trunk.
An multi-purpose ABC fire extinguisher, garden hose and bucket of water or sand are kept nearby for extinguishment purposes.
In the summer of 2003 there were
5,545
fires resulting in an
estimated property loss of
$38 million and caused 162 injuries and 44 deaths.*
During 2003 there were*:
51 fires caused by grills 111 fires caused by fireworks 16 fires caused by sunlight
In 2003 in Virginia 21.2% of all fires occurred during the months of June, July and August.*
Camping Fire Safety To prepare for a campfire a pit is dug away from overhanging branches. Rocks have been set up in a ring around the pit and a ten foot area around the pit has been cleared dwon to the soil. Extra firewood is stacked upwind and away from the fire. After lighting, matches are not discarded until they are cold. Campfires are never left unattended. A bucket of water and a shovel are nearby in case of emergency. Campfires are fully extinguished using water and dirt before leaving the area. Lit cigarettes are never thrown onto the ground or left near combustible objects. Proper cooking tools are used and no one cooks inside a tent.
Vacation Fire Safety Before Leaving
Emergency contacts are set up and all travelers have their phone numbers, including work numbers.
Stoves and electrical appliances have been turned off or disconnected and television sets and radios have been unplugged.
On Vacation Travelers with special mobility needs have requested a room on the first or second floor. Checked that every room has a smoke alarm and preferably a sprinkler system Travelers read fire safety information provided by the hotel and an escape plan is made with at least two exits. Occupants count the number of doors between the room and the exit doors to help with escape in case vision is impared during an emergency. Any exit doors that appeart to be blocked or locked are reported to the management immediately. Hotel fire alarms are never ignored, even if smoke can not be seen from the room or hallway.
For more information and fire safety tips call your local fire department or go to: www.vafire.com
Residential Structure Fires Apartments 2002 * 23%
Dwellings 71%
Mobile Home 2% Hotels, Motels 2% Other Residential 2%
Fire Safety Checklist
* Statistical information as reported to the Virginia Fire Incident Reporting System (VFIRS).
Be FireSafe VIRGINIA www.vafire.com
Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Fire Safety Smoke alarms are installed and checked monthly. Batteries are changed at least twice a year. Five-pound ABC-rated fire extinguishers have been purchased and everyone knows how to use them. Escape routes are planned and practiced, making sure that several routes are available.
Refrigerators that smell of ammonia are repaired or replaced to ensure that it is not leaking highly explosive hydrogen gas. Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms are installed. Ovens and cooktops are never used as a heat source. Combustible materials, such as butane, gasoline, and propane are not stored in mobile homes or RVs.
Grilling Fire Safety
Grills are never used inside homes, vehicles, tents or campers - even if ventilation is provided. Grills are never used in garages or on wooden decks. Charcoal and charcoal grills are never stored inside when coals are freshly used. Grills are cleaned thoroughly before and after use to avoid grease buildup. Children are kept at least 3 feet away from the grilling area. Only proper grilling utensils and fire retardant mitts are used.
All residents and visitors know to get low and craw with their head 12 to 24 inches from the floor in case of a fire. Cigarettes and cigars are fully extinguished before disposing of them.
Grill hoses have been checked for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks and there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
Lighter fluid is never put directly on flames or on hot or warm coals.
Propane gas containers are kept upright.
Hot grills are never left unattended.
Mobile homes and recreation vehicles are kept clutter free and exits are not blocked.
Gas containers are never stored under or near the grill or indoors.
Loose clothing is never worn while grilling.
There is adequate space between mobile homes and nearby structures.
Flammable liquids, such as gasoline, are never stored or used near the grill.
Mobile homes and RVs are located a safe distance from power lines.
Filled propane containers are never stored in a hot car or a car trunk.
An multi-purpose ABC fire extinguisher, garden hose and bucket of water or sand are kept nearby for extinguishment purposes.
In the summer of 2003 there were
5,545
fires resulting in an
estimated property loss of
$38 million and caused 162 injuries and 44 deaths.*
During 2003 there were*:
51 fires caused by grills 111 fires caused by fireworks 16 fires caused by sunlight
In 2003 in Virginia 21.2% of all fires occurred during the months of June, July and August.*
Camping Fire Safety To prepare for a campfire a pit is dug away from overhanging branches. Rocks have been set up in a ring around the pit and a ten foot area around the pit has been cleared dwon to the soil. Extra firewood is stacked upwind and away from the fire. After lighting, matches are not discarded until they are cold. Campfires are never left unattended. A bucket of water and a shovel are nearby in case of emergency. Campfires are fully extinguished using water and dirt before leaving the area. Lit cigarettes are never thrown onto the ground or left near combustible objects. Proper cooking tools are used and no one cooks inside a tent.
Vacation Fire Safety Before Leaving
Emergency contacts are set up and all travelers have their phone numbers, including work numbers.
Stoves and electrical appliances have been turned off or disconnected and television sets and radios have been unplugged.
On Vacation Travelers with special mobility needs have requested a room on the first or second floor. Checked that every room has a smoke alarm and preferably a sprinkler system Travelers read fire safety information provided by the hotel and an escape plan is made with at least two exits. Occupants count the number of doors between the room and the exit doors to help with escape in case vision is impared during an emergency. Any exit doors that appeart to be blocked or locked are reported to the management immediately. Hotel fire alarms are never ignored, even if smoke can not be seen from the room or hallway.
For more information and fire safety tips call your local fire department or go to: www.vafire.com
Residential Structure Fires Apartments 2002 * 23%
Dwellings 71%
Mobile Home 2% Hotels, Motels 2% Other Residential 2%
Fire Safety Checklist
* Statistical information as reported to the Virginia Fire Incident Reporting System (VFIRS).
Be FireSafe VIRGINIA www.vafire.com
