Home Safety
There are several things you can do to help prevent a fire and protect your loved ones. We want you to be prepared and have a plan! Below are several home safety tips and links to other helpful websites.
If you live in the Woodcrest Fire Volunteer Fire Department District, be
sure to register your storm shelter with us in case of an emergency.
Install & Maintain Smoke Alarms.
- Change batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year. We recommend doing this when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings.
- Install at least one smoke alarm in every level of your home.
- Install a smoke alarm outside of every sleeping room and near the kitchen.
- Do not install smoke alarms near windows, doors, ducts, or anywhere a draft may interefere with its operation.
- Perform a monthly check of each smoke alarm to ensure it is functioning properly.
- We advise purchasing a combo of both Smoke Alarm & Carbon Monoxide detector.
Draw an escape plan of your house & practice the plan with your family.
- Have a primary and secondary escape route from every room in the home, including all doors and windows in your plan.
- Designate a safe meeting place outside of the house and include it on your plan.
- Practice your plan at least twice a year using both primary and secondary escape routes.
- Once you are out of the house, stay out. Call 911 as soon as possible.
- When the emergency responders arrive, inform them of anyone left in the home, their name & age, and last known location.
Follow safe practices of fireplace and candle burning in your home.
- Keep candles at least 1-foot away from anything that can catch fire, such as clothing or curtains, as well as any flammable liquids.
- Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, and are large enough to collect candle wax.
- Extinguish candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Have your fireplace/chimney or wood-burning stove cleaned each year by a certified professional.
- Keep the area around your fireplace clean of flammable materials, decorations, and debris.
- Leave the glass doors open when burning a fire and do not restrict the air flow to the fire. Doing so can result in a build up of creosote that can lead to a chimney fire. Also, keep the metal mesh screen closed when burning.
Beware of other fire risks around your home.
- Keep a fire extinguisher, easily accessible, in your house.
- Stack firewood at least 30-feet away from your home.
- Keep your roof and chimney clear of leaves, limbs, or other debris.
- When using a turkey fryer, place it away from your home or other buildings. Do not use it in a garage or on a wooden deck. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to put out a grease fire!
- Keep a water hose quickly accessible when burning in firepits or chimineas, using tiki torches, and when cooking on a grill.
- Have a designated meeting place for your family if a wildfire breaks out near your home.
- Contact your local fire department if you are planning a controlled burn on your property.
- Be aware of burn bans or restrictions in your area.
Home Safety Links
