10 Ways to Improve Home Fire Safety.

A safer home starts with the spaces you use every day. Improve home fire safety by keeping exits clear, staying in the kitchen while cooking, testing smoke alarms, cleaning dryer lint, and practicing an escape plan.

The good news is that many fire-safety improvements are simple: clear potential hazards, keep escape routes open, maintain smoke alarms, and make a plan with your household. Use these 10 home fire-safety tips to help protect your space, your belongings, and the people you love. 

Home Fire-Safety Essentials:

• Keep hallways, doors, stairs, and exits clear of boxes, furniture, and household overflow.
• Stay in the kitchen when using the stovetop.
• Keep towels, paper products, oven mitts, and other flammable materials away from burners.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and replace alarms according to the manufacturer’s listed service life.
• Clean the dryer lint filter after every load.
• Have fireplaces, chimneys, and vents inspected and cleaned as recommended.
• Remove dry leaves and debris from gutters, decks, patios, and areas around the home.
• Create and practice a home fire escape plan with every household member.
• Store only clean, dry, permitted household items in a storage unit.

Home Fire Safety at a Glance:

1. Keep Exits and Walkways Clear

Keep hallways, stairs, doors, and exits clear of boxes, furniture, and household clutter. Move combustible materials away from heating equipment and exterior walls.

Declutter one area at a time. Start with entryways, garages, attics, utility rooms, and other spaces where belongings can block access.

2. Stay in the Kitchen While Cooking

Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. Keep towels, paper products, oven mitts, and other flammable materials away from burners and open flames.

If a grease fire starts, turn off the heat if you can do so without risk and slide a lid over the pan. Do not use water on a grease fire.

3. Test Smoke Alarms Monthly

Test smoke alarms monthly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for battery replacement and alarm replacement. Install smoke alarms inside bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and on every home level according to local requirements.

Replace an alarm at the end of its listed service life. Many smoke alarms list a replacement period of about 10 years.

4. Use Candles Carefully

Use candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from curtains, bedding, paper, pets, and children. Extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.

Use flameless candles when you want a similar look without an open flame.

5. Clean Dryer Lint After Every Load

Clean the dryer lint filter after every load to keep airflow moving through the dryer. Have the dryer vent and ductwork inspected and cleaned regularly.

Do not run the dryer when you are away from home or asleep. Keep the area around the dryer clear of boxes, clothing, and household clutter.

6. Maintain Fireplaces and Chimneys

Have fireplaces, chimneys, and vents inspected and cleaned by a qualified professional as recommended. Use a fireplace screen, keep combustible items away from the hearth, and let ashes cool fully before disposal.

Do not place furniture, boxes, décor, or other household items near a fireplace or wood stove.

7. Clear Outdoor Debris During Fire Season

Remove dry leaves, brush, and debris from gutters, decks, patios, and the area around your home. In wildfire-prone areas, follow local requirements for defensible space, landscaping, fencing, and exterior materials.

Keep outdoor paths clear so everyone can leave the property without moving boxes, equipment, or furniture.

8. Keep Microwave Fires Contained

Keep the microwave door closed if a fire starts. Turn off or unplug the microwave only if you can do so without risk, then leave the home and call 911 if the fire continues or conditions feel unsafe.

Do not place metal items in a microwave unless the manufacturer states they are microwave-safe.

9. Create and Practice a Home Fire Escape Plan

Create and practice a home fire escape plan with everyone in the household. Identify two ways out of each room when possible, choose an outside meeting place, and practice the plan regularly.

Get out and stay out during a fire. Do not return inside for belongings.

10. Put Away Household Overflow to Keep Your Home Clear

Put away lower-use household items when boxes, furniture, seasonal décor, or hobby supplies crowd garages, closets, attics, and entryways. Clearer daily-use spaces support open walkways and easier access to doors and exits.

Use storage only for permitted, clean, dry household items. Keep food, wet items, live plants, paint, fuel, cleaners, hazardous materials, personal records, and other prohibited items out of storage.

Create a Clear Home Fire-Safety Routine.

Keep exits open, maintain smoke alarms, clean lint and outdoor debris, and practice an escape plan with your household. Public Storage can help you put away permitted, clean, dry household items while you create more room in garages, closets, attics, and entryways.

Clear the exits. Know the plan.

Home Fire Safety FAQs

What Are the Most Important Home Fire-Safety Tips?
Keep exits clear, test smoke alarms monthly, stay nearby while cooking, clean dryer lint after every load, and practice a home fire escape plan. Review these steps regularly with everyone in the household.

How Often Should You Test Smoke Alarms?
Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries and alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Install alarms inside bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and on every home level according to local requirements.

What Should You Do During a Grease Fire?
Turn off the heat if you can do so without risk and slide a lid over the pan. Do not use water on a grease fire.

Why Should You Keep Hallways and Exits Clear?
Clear hallways, stairs, doors, and exits support faster movement out of the home during an emergency. Move boxes, furniture, and household overflow out of these areas.

Can Storage Help With Home Fire-Safety Planning?
Storage can help create clearer home areas by holding permitted, clean, dry household items that do not need daily access. Do not place hazardous materials, food, wet items, personal records, or other prohibited items in a storage unit.