CERT FIRE

Page 1:

  • Fire is a leading cause of death and property damage in the US

    • Asphyxiation is the leading cause of death in a fire

    • Fully developed room fires have temperatures over 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit

    • Fire generates black, impenetrable smoke that blocks vision and clogs lungs

  • Majority of fire deaths occur where people sleep

  • Most home and building fires are preventable

  • Arson fires are often caused by juveniles who can be deterred through counseling

  • In 2006, 2,620 people died in reported home fires in the US

  • Fire victims are disproportionately children or the elderly

Page 2:

  • Key to fire preparedness is a family fire plan

  • Family fire plan should include smoke alarms on every level of the home and near all sleeping areas

  • Two escape routes from every room in the home

  • Practice the escape plan at least twice each year

  • Practice alerting family members by yelling "Fire!"

  • Learn the fire department's emergency number

  • If escaping through smoke, crawl low under the smoke

  • If escaping through a closed door, check for signs of fire before opening

  • Go to the agreed upon meeting place and call the fire department

  • If smoke, heat, or flames block all exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed

  • Stop up areas where smoke could come in using wet towels, sheets, or clothes

  • Open windows slightly at top and bottom to allow smoke to exit and fresh air to enter

  • Hang or wave a bright-colored or white cloth at the window to signal the fire department

Page 3:

  • Conduct a home hazard hunt to eliminate fire hazards

  • Inspect wood stoves and chimneys annually

  • Purchase heaters that have been laboratory tested and approved

  • Keep matches and lighters away from children

  • Check electrical wiring and replace frayed cords or loose plugs

  • Keep combustible materials away from stoves

  • Additional suggestions for preventing fires will be covered in Unit 2, Fire Safety

Page 4:

  • There are three classes of wildfires: surface fires, ground fires, and crown fires

  • Majority of forest fires are started by people

  • Negligent human behavior is the cause of many forest fires

  • Strategies for wildfire preparedness are similar to fires in the home

  • Developing a family fire escape plan is helpful for wildfires as well

Page 5:

  • Prepare for a possible wildfire by:

    • Keeping a garden hose that can reach any area of the home and other structures

    • Buying a ladder that can reach the roof

    • Considering obtaining a portable gasoline-powered water pump if a pool, lake, or stream is available

    • Equipping chimneys and stovepipes with spark arresters

    • Keeping fire tools handy, such as shovels, rakes, axes, chain or handsaws, buckets, and fire extinguishers

    • Using proper building and landscape design, including clearing flammable vegetation to create a "defensible space" or "safety zone" of at least 30 feet around the home

    • Using fireproof or fire-resistant roofing in wildfire-prone areas

  • Additional strategies for wildfire preparedness include:

    • Marking driveway entrances to help firefighters locate the home quickly during a fire

    • Following local burning laws and never burning during dry weather or within 75 feet of a structure or combustibles

    • Never leaving a fire unattended, even a cigarette

  • Inside the home, take measures to prevent damage from wildfire by:

    • Listening for emergency information on radio, television, or the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and evacuating immediately if advised

    • Confining pets to one room or arranging for them to stay with a friend or relative

    • Moving flammable furniture to the center of the home, away from windows and sliding glass doors

    • Removing flammable drapes and curtains, closing venetian blinds and noncombustible window treatments

    • Closing all doors and windows to reduce air flow

Page 6:

  • If trapped by a wildfire, try to find a body of water to crouch in and cover the head and upper body with wet clothing. If water is not accessible, look for shelter in a cleared area or within a rock bed and breathe close to the ground through a dry cloth.

  • Use caution when reentering the area after a wildfire, as hazards may still exist, including hot spots that can flare up without warning.

  • Inspect the roof immediately and extinguish sparks or embers that could reignite the fire.

  • Have propane or heating oil tanks inspected by the supplier before using the system, as they may have shifted, fallen, or been damaged by the fire.

  • Check the stability of trees around the home and mark ash pits created by burned trees and stumps to avoid falling into hot ash pits.

  • If there is no power, check the main breaker and call the utility company if power is still not available.

  • Precautions while cleaning the property following a fire include wetting down debris, using an N-95 mask with a nose clip, wearing coveralls and leather gloves, and checking with local authorities before disposing of household hazardous materials.