Home Fire Safety

Candles

• Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn.
• Use sturdy, safe candleholders.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish candles when you leave a room.
• Be careful not to splatter wax when extinguishing a candle.
• Avoid using candles in bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Always use a flashlight, not a candle, for emergency lighting.
• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles.

Cooking Safety

Stay Alert

• To prevent cooking fires, you must be alert. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.

Watch What You Heat!

• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while the food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.

Keep Combustibles and Heat Sources Apart

• Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains – away from your stovetop.
• Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.
• Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and can catch fire if it comes in contact with a gas flame or electric burner.

Turkey Fryers

• NFPA discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. These units use a substantial quantity of cooking oil at high temperatures and pose a significant danger of hot oil release. The use of turkey fryers by consumers can lead to devastating burns, other injuries, and property destruction.

Heating Safety

• Make sure that your choice of heating equipment is permitted by law in your community. For example, kerosene heaters, chimneys, and fire pits are not allowed in all communities.
• Make sure that your heating equipment has a label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• If possible, have a qualified professional install the equipment.
• Make sure that all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside. Make sure that the venting for exhaust is kept clear and unobstructed. This includes the removal of snow around the outlet to the outside.
• Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
• Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding, or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
• Supervise children when open fires and space heaters are being used and install a non-combustible screen around the appliance to prevent burns.
• Cooking appliances should not be used to heat a home.
• For fuel assistance, contact the National Fuel Funds Network. Contact local officials to find out if weatherization programs are available.

Smoking Safety

• If you smoke, choose fire-safe cigarettes if they are available; they are less likely to cause fires.
• If you smoke, smoke outside.
• Wherever you smoke, use deep, sturdy ashtrays.
• Before you throw out butts and ashes, make sure they are out; dousing in water or sand is the best way.
• Never smoke where oxygen is being used.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Before going to bed, check under furniture cushions for cigarette butts that may have fallen out of sight.
• To prevent a deadly fire, you must be alert. Do not smoke if you are sleepy or have taken medicine/drugs that make you drowsy.

Portable Space Heaters

• Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
• Inspect for cracked or frayed cords, broken plugs, or loose connections. Replace the unit if damaged.

Open Air Burning

• Open-air burning is restricted in many areas of Utah. Call the local fire department or municipality before outdoor burning, including brush fires, fire pits, and burn barrels.
• Closely attend to all outdoor fires at all times.
• Use chimineas, outdoor fireplaces, and fire pits outdoors only and at least 10 feet away from the home or anything that can burn.

Fuel Burning Space Heaters

• Always use the proper fuel as specified by the manufacturer.
• When refueling, allow the appliance to cool completely and refuel outside or in a well-ventilated area.
• When using the heater, always open a window to ensure adequate venting for the room.

Wood Stoves & Fireplaces

• Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood.
• Use artificial logs strictly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Use only newspaper and kindling wood to start a fire. Never use flammable liquids like lighter fluid, kerosene, or gasoline.
• Always have a sturdy screen on a fireplace to prevent sparks from escaping.
• Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of them in a metal container and keep that container at a safe distance from the home and any nearby buildings.

Children & Fire Tools

• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet. It is an adult’s job to keep fire tools away from kids.
• If you must keep a lighter convenient, have only one and keep it securely with you at all times.
• Teach young children to tell a grown-up immediately if they find matches or lighters.
• Do not buy or use lighters that look like toys; they can easily confuse children.
• If you are concerned about a child’s interest in fire, contact your local fire department to find a Juvenile Firesetter Program—a free and educational resource.

Burns & Scalds

Prevent Scalds and Burns in the Kitchen

• Teach children that hot things burn.
• Place objects so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
• Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.
• Keep appliance cords coiled and away from counter edges.
• Keep hot foods and liquids away from the table and counter edges.
• Use dry oven mitts or potholders. Moisture in a mitt can turn into steam and cause a scald burn.
• If you have young children, cook on the stove's back burners whenever possible.
• When children are old enough, teach them how to cook safely and respect heat sources.

Hot Tap Water and Scald Burns

• Consider installing “anti-scald” devices on tub faucets and shower heads. The temperature should not exceed 100°F. Alternatively, adjust your water heater thermostat to no higher than 120°F to lower the risk of burns.

• How to test your water temperature:

  1. Run the water for 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Test with a meat, candy, or cooking thermometer.
  3. If it's over 120°F, adjust the heater and wait a full day before retesting.
• Before placing a child in a bath, test the water with your elbow or forearm; these areas are more sensitive to heat than your hands.

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety

Before You Buy & Use

• Certified Equipment: Only purchase devices and batteries listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Manufacturer Guidelines: Follow instructions to mitigate unsafe conditions. Using unapproved equipment can void warranties and shift liability to the operator.
• No Alterations: Never attempt to alter batteries or chargers. Authentic factory replacements are essential; generic modifications can interfere with the Battery Management System (BMS).

Stop Use Immediately If:

• Physical Damage: You notice bulging, dents, punctures, or wetness.
• Unusual Indicators: You detect an unusual odor, change in color, hissing/cracking noises, or excessive heat.
• Action Required: If safe, move the device away from combustibles and contact the Fire Department. Do not move a device that is already smoking or sparking.

Charging & Storage

• Direct Connection: Plug chargers directly into wall outlets. Avoid extension cords or power strips for permanent charging.
• Surface Safety: Charge on hard, stable surfaces. Never charge on beds, couches, or pillows.
• Climate: Batteries operate safest between 40°F and 104°F. Avoid hot cars or direct sunlight.
• Clear Egress: Store e-bikes and scooters away from exit doors and stairways to ensure a clear escape path.

Li-ion Batteries are Everywhere

These standards apply to cell phones, laptops, e-bikes, power tools, drones, and smart watches. Do not discard these batteries in the trash.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Often called the "invisible killer," carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels like gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, and methane burn incompletely.

CO Alarm Installation & Maintenance

• Install CO alarms in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
• For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home so that when one sounds, they all sound.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for specific placement and mounting height.
• Test CO alarms at least once a month and replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If it still sounds after replacement, call the fire department.

Prevention Around the Home

• Heating Equipment: Have fuel-burning equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in.
• Generators: Use generators only in well-ventilated outdoor locations away from windows, doors, and vent openings.
• Vehicles: Never run a vehicle or fueled engine indoors, even if garage doors are open. Clear snow from exhaust pipes immediately.
• Grills/Ovens: Never use a gas or charcoal grill indoors. Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Venting: After snowstorms, ensure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.