Thank goodness we had a fire safety plan in place—I never intended to ignite a fire in our home. Honestly, who does? I was merely trying to heat up some chicken nuggets for my kids. Little did I know that my partner, Max, had left a pizza box in the oven from the previous night (seriously, who forgets to remove that?!). Without checking the oven first, I hit preheat, as who would suspect their partner would leave a cardboard box in there, right? While I was busy working, my nine-year-old called out, “Mom, I smell smoke.”
I turned to the oven only to see smoke billowing out. Oh no. When I opened the door, flames erupted. I quickly grabbed the fire extinguisher from the kitchen, skimmed the instructions, and felt like a hero from an action movie as I aimed and pulled the trigger. It was like a scene from Ghostbusters, with foam engulfing my kitchen like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man had gone rogue. Thankfully, the fire was extinguished, though cleaning up took two full days. But I saved our home, and I was incredibly grateful for our fire safety plan.
Our Fire Safety Measures
Our fire safety measures meet the rigorous standards set by social services: we have interconnected smoke alarms in every bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room. The kids are drilled on our evacuation plan; they know how to exit through their windows, can access them, and how to open them. We even have a designated outdoor meeting spot in case of emergencies. They are familiar with basic fire safety protocols: stop, drop, and roll; never play with matches unless mom and dad are around; and always turn off the stove.
You might think these precautions are excessive. Fire safety plans? Really? However, the statistics tell a different story. According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2018, fire departments responded to around 1,318,500 fires. Tragically, 2,720 civilians lost their lives in house fires that year. To put it into perspective, someone in the U.S. dies from a house fire every three hours and thirteen minutes, while approximately 11,200 more were injured, or one every 41 minutes. The Red Cross reports that seven individuals perish in house fires daily, with a significant portion being children or the elderly.
That’s a staggering number, and it underscores the necessity of having a fire safety plan. Furthermore, the US Fire Administration reveals that three-fifths of all fatalities in house fires occur in homes without functioning smoke detectors. Our smoke detectors are wireless and interconnected; if one goes off, they all do. Having working smoke detectors can cut your risk of dying in a house fire in half. Since many fire-related deaths happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., it’s vital to have smoke detectors installed in every bedroom. The Red Cross notes that you may only have two minutes to escape if a fire breaks out.
How to Prepare for the Worst
- Ensure your smoke detectors are operational. Test them monthly by pressing the button to confirm they beep. If they don’t, replace them. They should also be replaced every ten years, and all detectors have a label indicating their manufacture date.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. The National Fire Protection Association states that “unattended cooking” is the leading cause of house fires (it even caused a fire in my college dorm!). Thus, the kitchen is the most crucial place to have an extinguisher. It’s also wise to have one in the laundry room, as dryers can spark fires too, as we once experienced—luckily, we managed to unplug it before any significant damage occurred.
- Develop a fire escape plan. The Red Cross advises practicing it at least twice a year. Everyone should know at least two ways to exit the house and avoid going back in for people or pets. Since smoke can be hazardous, staying low is essential, and having an outdoor meeting spot is necessary to ensure everyone is accounted for.
The National Fire Prevention Association also recommends residential sprinklers (which we lack) and ensuring that potentially dangerous appliances are child-proof—like lighters and matches. Store those items out of reach and teach your children basic fire safety rules. My kids have been educated about fire safety since they were five, learning how to use matches and lighters responsibly, eliminating the curiosity factor.
You might think a house fire could never happen to you, and I get it; I never expected one to happen to us either. But I’m thankful we had a fire extinguisher accessible. In hindsight, for oven fires like mine, it’s recommended to simply close the oven door and wait for it to burn out on its own. So, make a fire safety plan and practice it—you never know when it might save your home.
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Summary: I never realized how crucial a fire safety plan was until an unexpected incident made it clear. After an oven mishap where a pizza box ignited, I was grateful for our fire safety measures, which included working smoke detectors and an escape plan. Statistics reveal the importance of such plans, highlighting the need for awareness and preparation against house fires.