Home Fire Safety Inspection Checklist

A fire can occur in any part of your home. Use this checklist to make a safety check of your home. (To pint this checklist click the printer icon on your browser).

Smoking Habits:

r Are all matches and lighters kept out of children’s reach?

r Is “NO SMOKING IN BED” a rule of the house?

r Is your family aware that ash trays should NEVER be emptied into waste

        baskets?

r Are there plenty of large, safe ash trays throughout the house?

r Do you check for smoldering cigarette butts in the furniture?

Electrical Hazards:

r Are appliances checked periodically for good operating conditions?

r Are you careful not to run extension cords under rugs or over hooks and nails?

r When using extension cords for appliances, does the gauge of both cords

        match?

r Are electrical outlets overloaded?

Housekeeping:

r Do you keep rubbish cleaned out of attics, garages and yards?

r Is paint kept in tightly closed metal containers?

r Are flammable liquids stored in safety cans and kept away from heat and

        children?

r Have you make it a rule to NEVER use flammable liquids for cleaning clothes

        or start fires?

r Are oily rags kept in a tightly sealed container?

r Is your clothes dryer vent clean and properly installed?

Heating and Cooking:

r If you have a fireplace, is a screen always placed in front of it?

r Is the filter for your forced air heater changed yearly and the venting cleaned?

r Are furnaces and wood burning stoves in good repair and located away from

        combustible walls and ceilings?

r Do you have the fireplace chimney cleaned and checked periodically?

r Do you make sure combustibles are not stored near the stove, heater or

       fireplace?

r Do your children keep a safe distance from flame and heat sources?

Smoke Alarms:

r Have you installed a smoke alarm outside every sleeping area or in every

        bedroom on each floor?

r Do you test your smoke alarm(s) every month?

r Do you replace the battery of your battery operated smoke alarm every year?

Fire Escape Plan:

r Does your family have a fire escape plan prepared?

r Is your escape plan posted and regularly practiced?

r Does each bedroom have TWO exits?

r Do you have a meeting place so you will know everyone is outside and safe?

r Are emergency response numbers posted on all telephones?

r Is your address on or near your telephone?

r Do all family members know how to dial 9-1-1 for fire, police or medical 

        emergencies?

r Do you show your babysitter/guests your home escape routes and review

       9-1-1 with her/him?

r Does your family (and babysitter) know the first rule in fire emergencies: GET

        EVERYONE OUT FAST AND DON’T GO BACK INSIDE?

Fire Extinguishers:

r Do you have a UL or FM approved fire extinguisher in your home?

r Do you take it out two times a year and shake it to keep the powder from

        packing?

Outside:

r Have all dried grass cuttings, tree trimmings and weeds been removed from your property?

r Can you see your house number from the street?

For additional information on home fire and injury prevention contact your local fire department.