Fire Prevention Week runs October 4–10. A few quick checks this week can protect the people and the neighborhood you love.
Most home fire safety isn’t complicated. It’s the small stuff that’s easy to put off: the smoke alarm that chirps once and goes quiet, the dryer vent nobody has looked at in years, the phone charging on the couch cushion overnight.
This year’s national Fire Prevention Week theme from the National Fire Protection Association, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” puts the spotlight on lithium-ion batteries. Whether you own or rent, here’s a quick checklist to work through this week.
“These simple safety steps matter because they help prevent fires, protect lives, and keep families safe. A few minutes spent on prevention can make all the difference in an emergency.”
Derwin Bradley, MetroWest Public Safety Director
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Test them monthly. Press the test button and make sure everyone in the house knows the sound.
- Check the batteries. If your alarms use replaceable batteries, swap them out at least once a year, and right away if one starts chirping.
- Check the date. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Look for the manufacture date on the back.
- Cover every level. You want a smoke alarm inside each bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of your home.
- Add carbon monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide has no smell or color, so an alarm is the only way to know it’s there. If your home has gas appliances, a fireplace, or an attached garage, put a CO alarm outside sleeping areas and on every level.
Safe Charging
- Use the right charger. Stick with the cord and charger made for your device.
- Charge on hard surfaces. Skip beds, couches, and pillows, where heat can build up.
- Unplug when it’s full. Don’t leave phones, e-bikes, or scooters charging all day or overnight.
- Watch for warning signs. If a battery swells, gets unusually hot, smells odd, or leaks, stop using it.
Dryer Vents
- Clean the lint filter after every load. It takes five seconds.
- Check the vent. Make sure the outside flap opens freely and isn’t clogged with lint. If clothes are taking longer to dry, that’s a sign it’s time for a deeper clean.
- Don’t run it when you’re away. Avoid running the dryer when no one is home or everyone is asleep.
Grills
- Clean off grease. Built-up grease on the grates and in the drip tray is a common cause of flare-ups.
- Check gas connections. Brush soapy water on the hose and connections. Bubbles mean a leak, so shut off the gas and get it fixed before you grill.
- Give it room. Keep the grill well away from the house, railings, and overhanging branches, and never leave it unattended.
- Apartments and condos: keep flames off balconies and patios. Florida fire code doesn’t allow charcoal, propane, or other fuel-burning grills on balconies, under overhangs, or within 10 feet of the building, which rules out most patios too. They can’t be stored on a balcony either. A small electric grill is the exception, as long as it’s a listed model used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Make a Plan
Finally, take a few minutes to talk through an escape plan with everyone in your home. Know two ways out of every room and pick a meeting spot outside.
An hour this week is a small investment. And when every household does its part, the whole community is safer.
For more tips, visit firepreventionweek.org.
