Learn not to burn

While we spend a lot of time in CERT discussing the big unexpected and unstoppable hazards we face, such as earthquakes and severe weather. But there are dangers that can be preventable, or at the least safely mitigated in advance.

Structure fire is a common but preventable home hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Authority (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of fire injury, and the kitchen is the most common origin for structure fires and fire injuries at home. Did you know that statistically speaking, the national home structure fire rate peaks between the 5:00 to 8:00 pm dinner hour?

You can take proactive steps toward preventing kitchen fires by merely observing your environment and making a few small changes. Specifically, look at your stove: are there any boxes or bags near the burners that could catch on fire? If so, relocate them at least two feet away from the stovetop.

If you have an older gas oven, have it inspected by a professional every few years to ensure that the pilot and gas feeds are clean and safe. And if you have countertop appliances, check their cords for fraying or damage (and replace them if necessary).

And never leave the kitchen with an operating stove unattended. That’s just asking for trouble!

Smoke detectors save lives

Per the NFPA, 62% of deaths in home structure fires in 2010 occurred in homes without functional smoke alarms. Death and injury can be prevented by proper installation and maintenance of smoke detectors.

If your smoke detector goes off when you cook, perhaps it’s not placed well enough to do its job. Rather than just removing the battery, it’s a much better idea to relocate the device to a place away from kitchen smoke or bathroom steam.

If you are unable to safely relocate the smoke detector or change the batteries on your own, call your local fire department for assistance. Each department has there own policies regarding smoke detector maintenance assistance, so be sure to find out if/how yours can help before you climb that ladder.

Learn to suppress it yourself

We teach our CERT members not only how to select the appropriate fire extinguisher for their home needs, but also how to use them.

In CERT we teach people like you how easy it is to use a fire extinguisher. If you have never used a fire extinguisher to put out a live fire, we encourage you to join us for our next CERT Fire Safety class to try it out for yourself.

For more information on how to select and use the correct fire extinguisher for a small household fire, see the article “Fire Suppression Simplified” on our website.