Fire is a deadly threat to every household. It can strike without warning. The fact is that in 2005, there were nearly 381,000 home fires in the U.S. annually results in some 16,000 injuries and deaths as reported by the NFPA. Everyone should be familiar with the use of fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms and escape ladders for fire safety and protection.

Smoke detectors offer warning before a fire gets out of hand. Smoke alarms are best, most efficient way to alert your family of a fire in its beginning stages. The greater number of smoke alarms you have placed throughout you home the better the likelihood you and your family will be alerted to a fire.

A fire extinguisher is a tool to combat small, contained fires. Having fire extinguishers strategically distributed in all areas of your home can increase your chances of keeping a small fire from getting out of control and becoming deadly.

Fire extinguishers are categorized by Underwriters Laboratories ratings. The ratings determine what size and type of fire that an extinguisher should be used on. Types of fires are divided into three categories: A, B, or C. “A” type fires are primarily wood, paper and fabric fires. “B” type fires are primarily flammable liquids and oil based fires. Lastly, “C” fire extinguishers are for electrical fires.

The A,B, or C rating on a fire extinguisher is preceded by a number that indicates the size of the fire the extinguisher is rated for. A 10-B:C extinguisher has been tested to, under most conditions, put out a 25 square foot fire of either flammable liquid or energized electrical equipment. A 5-B:C fire extinguisher is rated to fight a 12.5 ft square flammable liquid or electrical fire.

Being ready by using both smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in your home, having a prepared, rehearsed escape plan and knowing what to do in case of fire, can help save your home and your family.Tragedies caused by fire can be prevented!

Most guidelines recommend installing at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas. Another good idea is to place an emergency escape ladder on every floor above the main level. It is also smart to install a fire extinguisher in a convenient location on each level. If you have a large home, you should consider more than one extinguisher per level

The minimum protection for most homes includes installing one smoke alarm and one fire extinguisher on each level. However, consult your local fire and building codes for the exact minimum requirements concerning CO alarms and smoke detectors.