Home fire safety tips Published April 8, 2009 Home Safety Council, 354th Fighter Wing Safety Office and 354th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Departm EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Fire and burns are among the most common reasons for household injuries and deaths; in fact, it is the third most common cause according to the Home Safety Council. This is disturbing news when you take into consideration how simple it is to take preventative measures. The following are some helpful tips that apply to fires that are caused by cooking, heating, smoking, candles, gasoline, and like items. Cooking Ensure you are always in the kitchen when cooking (never leave cooking unattended). Keep any combustible objects such as towels, bags, and curtains at least three feet away from your stove top. Always keep a lid nearby that will cover the pan in case of flare-ups. In the event of an oven fire never open the door, turn off the oven and call 911. All Eielson base housing units are equipped with disposable fire extinguishers. Inspect them accordingly and make sure no agent is leaking out the nozzle and the pressure gauge is in the green. Also, roll up long sleeves before cooking and be sure to use oven mitts. Be sure to tuck in any loose fitting clothing as it can easily catch fire if it touches a hot burner. As with cooking indoors, never leave the grill unattended. Make sure you keep the grill at least 10 feet away from any trees, shrubs, bushes, or other objects around the house. Heaters Keep all matches and lighters in a locked cabinet, especially if you have children. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything flammable--to include curtains and newspapers. All space heaters must have a tip-over switch and a thermal coupler and must be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Never leave them unattended. If you're leaving or going to bed make sure you always turn them off. Also, keep flammable objects away from your fireplace if you have one. Smoking Make sure you use fire safe cigarettes if possible, and always smoke outside. Use large, deep ashtrays and always keep them on the table or other sturdy surface. Never put fresh cigarette butts in the trash. Instead, soak them in water first and never put trash in butt cans or ashtrays. Candles Always blow them out before leaving the room and never leave them unattended. Also keep them out of the reach of children. Never use a candle without a sturdy holder made of glass or metal. Burning candles are not authorized in duty sections. Gasoline and other products Because of how flammable gasoline is it should always be handled with extreme caution. Store it in the garage or shed and in an appropriate container. Always keep it outside of the home and never use it for any purpose other than for motor use. Some other tips to keep in mind involve never plugging too many devices into a single outlet and never daisy chain extension cords or power strips. Also, keep all flammable products closed and put away safely, preferably in a locked cabinet. Fire escape plan Make a fire escape plan for your family. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect--hold a family fire drill at least twice each year. Ensure smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home. Put them inside or near every bedroom. Test them monthly to make sure they work. Put in new batteries at least once a year. Teach every family member to "Stop, Drop, Roll" if clothes catch fire by dropping immediately to the ground, crossing hands over your chest and rolling over and over or back and forth to put out the flames. Seek medical attention for burns. Learn and teach every family member how and when to use a fire extinguisher. If you have a fire in your home, once you get out, stay out and dial 9-1-1. Keep in mind if you call 911 on your cell phone your call will go off-base, make sure you tell them it's an emergency on Eielson Air Force Base. With fire prevention rules being so simple, there is no excuse not to follow these easy tips. Doing so could save your life and the lives of your family.