The thought of fire engulfing your home is probably your worst nightmare. Worse yet, 100,000 homes are destroyed each year in America.

Don't let yourself become a statistic!

Every year, 4,000 Americans die in fires. The vast majority of those deaths occur at home. Many family pets do not survive house fires and uncounted irreplaceable family treasures are lost forever.

The good news is that most fires are preventable. The leading cause of fires in the home is faulty heating equipment. A couple of simple measures can ensure that your home heating system is safe.

• Changing your air filter regularly will ensure that your furnace isn't overtaxed.
  
• Don't leave piles of newspaper or other combustibles near your furnace

SMOKING

While home heating systems are the No. 1 cause of fires in the home, cigarettes are the No. 1 factor in home fire fatalities.

• If you smoke, be sensible.
  
  
• Don't smoke in bed.
  
  
• Use a large metal or glass ashtray.
  
  
• Put that cigarette out with water before you drop it in the trash.

ARSON

The No. 2 cause of fire-related deaths is arson. Intentionally set fires claim the lives of more people each year than all natural disasters-including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes-combined.

• Most arson fires are fueled with combustible material found nearby. Make sure to lock up anything that might aid an arsonist.
  
  
• Diligence around the house, along with a watchful eye for strangers, can make a world of difference. In fact, a little diligence is the key to home safety in general. Make sure you have:
  
  
• Smoke detectors that work.
  
  
• Fire extinguishers that are properly charged and quickly accessible.
  
  
• Secondary means of egress for upper floors.
  
  
• A predetermined meeting point outside the house to make sure everyone is out.

You can also call upon the resources in your community to help you implement a fire safety plan. Call your local fire department or fire marshal. They can help!

How To Handle A Kitchen Fire:

Many household fires start in the kitchen. Untended cooking and human error account for most of these, not mechanical failure of stoves or ovens. Here's how to handle a kitchen fire...

• Call 911 immediately. Prepare for the worst and don't hesitate to call.
  
  
• Smother frying-pan fires by covering with a lid, then turn off heat with lid in place until the pan cools. Do not try to carry the pan outside because this could seriously burn you should the contents spill out.
  
  
• Other food fires may be extinguished with baking soda, so try to keep an extra box stored in an upper cabinet location. Never use water or flour on cooking fires.

• Turn off the heat to smother oven or broiler fires and keep the door shut. Fire cannot exist without oxygen. Smothering the fire will help cutoff the flow of oxygen to the fire.
  
  
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it. (Ensure it is properly charged)

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