Every 20 seconds a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the nation. Statistics tell us that over three quarters of all fires start in the home, and this could mean your home. Most deaths from a house fire happen between the hours of 10p.m. and 6a.m. - when we are asleep and unaware of what may be happening in the house. These figures point to the usefulness of a smoke alarm.



One third of all households have a smoker living in them, and the highest risk group for a home fire is those who drink and smoke at home. It is often not the flame that kills people, but the lack of oxygen from the smoke. Smoke from a fire is responsible for three quarters of all deaths from fire, which is another reason why we should all install a smoke detector. (By the way- do not paint over the smoke detector to match your decor.)

Many fires are electrical fires. If you live in an old house, or are uneasy about the wiring, you should turn off all your appliances at night. This does not mean leave them on standby. On stand-by appliances are still using energy. Depending on the appliances this standby can represent as much as 10% of your bill.

While preventative measures are best, you could take precautions and risk having your family think you are paranoid! Keep an 'escape kit' of a bucket of water, towels, a whistle, a flashlight and duct tape handy, and you will be well prepared for the worst.

If you are indoors and you hear a fire or smoke detector and your door feels hot, do not open it. Most rooms have two ways out, door and window. If your windows are high, you can buy a window escape ladder. If you keep all doors closed at night, the fire will stay contained for longer, while you escape.

A common cause of fire in the home is oil overheating in a hot frying pan. Fire extinguishers are best for immediate action to a small fire, so keep them in a fire hazard area like the kitchen, the garage etc. and make them in easy to see. Make sure you know how to use it; it can be nerve wracking trying to read instructions with red hot flames leaping at your eyebrows.

For home use purchase an ABC type fire extinguisher. A is for paper and wood, B is for combustible fuels, grease and oil and C is for electrical fires. Most home fires involve all three, hence the requirement for an ABC extinguisher.

If the fire seems too fierce for a fire extinguisher, or if you have any doubts that it will get out of control, leave immediately and phone the fire department. This is 911. There are many fire departments that offer a free home fire safety visit and some areas even include a free smoke alarm!

If you live in a condo, make sure that you and everyone in your home know the condo's fire safety plan. Walk the different routes and have a pre-arranged meeting place outside. Keep an escape kit as mentioned above.

If you use a fireplace, get your chimney swept and inspected once a year. Keep wood and paper away from the outside of the fire. You could also install a spark arrester that stops fires from your chimney.

If you plan to have a real fir tree this Christmas, make sure you water it every day to keep it wet. Tests by the National Institute of Standards and Technology show that a match cannot light a wet tree. They recommend that you stand it in 7.6 liters of water and keep it topped up.

Finally, guard the real treasures of life - your photos. Keep photos, legal documents and irreplaceable papers or jewelry in a heavy leather case, a safe or (best of all) away from the house. Some things can never be replaced by insurance.