Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and a home escape plan

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) puts the stakes in one sentence: when you hear a smoke alarm, you may have less than 2 minutes to get everyone outside and safe. Ready.gov adds that a fire can become life-threatening in just two minutes. Preparation is what makes those two minutes enough.

Smoke alarms

Where

• In every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement (USFA).
• On the ceiling or high on the wall (USFA).
• Interconnected, so when one sounds, they all sound (USFA).

Testing and replacing (USFA)

Smoke alarms need replacing 10 years from the manufacture date, so check the date on the back. And never take the battery out while cooking. Ready.gov's own advice is to replace batteries twice a year unless you use 10-year lithium batteries; it's stricter than USFA's once-a-year minimum.

Fire extinguishers

When to use one

USFA says use a fire extinguisher only when every answer is "yes": the fire is small and contained to a single object or surface (like a pan or wastebasket), and you have a clear escape route. Young children and older adults should not use extinguishers. If you're unsure, alert others, leave the building and call 911.

PASS

1. Pull the pin.
2. Aim low, at the base of the fire.
3. Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
4. Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Ready.gov suggests keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. USFA recommends looking for a "UL Listed" label and choosing the largest extinguisher you can safely and comfortably use.

Your escape plan

• Draw a map of your home with all doors and windows, and find two ways out of every room (USFA).
• Choose an outside meeting place in front of your home (USFA).
• Practice your home fire escape plan twice each year (Ready.gov), starting the drill by pushing the smoke alarm's test button (USFA).
• Before opening a door, feel the knob and door. If either is hot, or smoke is coming around it, keep it closed and use your second way out (Ready.gov).
• Get low and crawl under smoke to your exit (Ready.gov).

Earthquake country

In Japan, firefighters stress a related risk: after an earthquake, toppled furniture can switch on electric heaters and start fires. Securing furniture is fire prevention too; see Secure your furniture.