(1) Do not leave heating lamps and space heaters unattended.
Common in households with pets, heat lamps for growing chicks or keeping reptiles warm have a high chance of starting fires. "A heat lamp can start a fire for the simple fact that it produces infrared radiation, and when they come in contact with flammable material, there is a high chance of ignition." Temperature Master. This same flammability also happens with infrared space heaters. The Chicken Coop offers a better solution similar to heated rock seen in reptile cages. Human versions include heated pads.
Best habit?
Don't buy infrared heaters, be it for chickens or faux fireplaces.
(2) Do not use the wrong lightbulbs in a light.
Lightbulbs can cause fires by overheating or frail wires from too high wattage, loosely installed bulbs, and too small bulbs making them loose. "Incandescent light bulbs have higher chances of causing fire than other bulb types." Temperature Master.
Best habits?
Replace burned out lights.
Buy the correct wattage and size of lights
The same time you test your fire alarms also test your lights to make sure they're not overheating.
Don't leave your lights on for extended period of times when you leave the house.
(3) Do not let lint build up.
One of the main causes of house fires is lint as it is very combustible. Dryers are the main source of lint and heat, thus if overheated because of a lint blockage, they will ignite. KY3. Another leading cause is dust clogging bathroom vents and fans as they are often sources of heat. Reader's Digest. Heat + flammable material = fire.
Best habits?
Always clean lint screen in your dryer.
Dust your vents, fans, and lights at least once a month.
Replace your HVAC filters at least every 6 months, writing the date of replacement on the filter.
Clean your dryer and air ducts at least once a year.
(4) Do not leave candles unattended nor near flammable material.
Over half of fires caused by candles occur because the candle flame is near to flammable material such as a curtain, towel, or tapestry. OFSC.
Best habit?
Don't burn candles.
Next best habit?
Don't burn candles near any material that is near the flame such as curtains or art.
Always trim the wicks.
Always burn candles in a container, such as on a ceramic plate, instead of directly on a wood table or other flammable item.
Don't burn candles for lengthy periods of time. Many candles should not be burned for more than 3 hours.
Don't burn candles out of sight.
(5) Always have fire extinguishing products near your stove.
Almost half of home fires are caused by cooking fires, usually be a fire in a pan. CR. Cover a flaming pan with lid or baking sheet. For oven fires, keep the door closed, shut off the oven controls. Then get a fire extinguisher in your kitchen to put it out.
Best habits?
Have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.
Stand by your pan.
Use non-flammable cleaners.
Here is 2-Pack on Amazon for home use. Not an affiliate link.
(6) Do not install flammable material near your range.
As described above with candles and stoves, having flammable material near an open flame is the best way to start a fire. While this means no macramé wall hangings or curtains near candles, this means no wooden or paper art above the range and avoid particle board and wooden shelves close to the range.
Best habits?
Do not have flammable items near your stove that would ignite with a pan fire such as artwork or open wood shelving installed too low.
Have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.
(7) Replace the batteries in your fire alarms (and testing them regularly).
The presences of a fire alarm can save your life, but only if it works correctly. Thus it is important they are installed throughout the house, with working batteries, and tested at least once a month. Portland Rental Homes.
Best habit?
Have working fire alarms.
(8) Do not buy illegal lithium batteries.
Lithium batteries as the cause for home fires is on the rise. While lithium battery fires in electric skateboards became a viral new story, many of these fires are started by laptops and other electronics where individuals buy replacement batteries from non-safety approved sources. CR.
Best habits?
Only buy official lithium batteries. While this is more expensive it is safer.
Do not loosely store batteries with other metal. Lhsnfa
(9) Do not trust Youtube or other social media craft videos.
Many social media videos, such as on Youtube or TikTok, feature craft videos but these can be very unsafe. Either the videos are fake, lack proper fire safety, or are downright illegal. Many of these "hacks" involve using electronics outside of their correct use.
Best habit?
Before engaging in any craft involving fire, gas, or electricity, take proper precautions.
Understand that many social media content is fake and unsafe.
