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To ensure your family’s safety, it is important to create and practice a fire escape plan. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), only approximately 25% of households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Knowing your exits, escape route and meeting place can help save time and lives in the event of a fire.

Making your plan is easy! Draw your entire home, and remember to consider these items as your family creates their plan.

• Exit locations. Each room should have two available exits. These can include doors or windows. If doors or windows have security bars, be sure that they can easily be opened in the event of an emergency.

• Smoke alarm locations. Smoke alarms should be installed in and outside every sleeping area and on every level of the home. Remember, if a smoke alarm sounds, get down low on the ground and crawl to your exit. Don’t forget to test your smoke alarms monthly!

• Choose an outside meeting place! Be sure your entire family knows where this meeting place is. For example, this can be a neighbor’s house, a mailbox, or a light post. Be sure to always call 911 from a neighbor’s house.

• Visible addressing. Be sure that your address is clearly marked on your house. This will help emergency personnel to find your home quickly.

• Get out, stay out! Once you are out of the house, do not re-enter for any reason. If a rescue is needed, alert firefighters when they arrive.

• Practice, practice, practice! Be sure everyone in the home knows your escape plan and practice at least twice per year. This will help everyone remember it and to stay calm during a real emergency.

It is very important to practice your plan, rather than just create it. Be sure everyone in your home knows the plan and keep it in a safe place.

Keep your family and home safe by being cautious when dealing with heat sources. Cooking left unattended is the leading cause of fire cooking fires. Many home fires start in the kitchen, more than any other place in the home. Space heaters are another leading cause of home fires, so be sure to give them space! Have at least three feet of clearance around the heater and avoid close contact with combustibles.