Protec

Your F

From 

FA 130, August 2002

Federal E

Managem

U.S. Fire 

www.us
suffer a fire serious enough to call the fire department. Most importantly, every 

half-hours someone is killed in a home fire—that’s over 3,500 people killed in 2

Another 20,000 people are injured in home fires in a typical year.

Protecting your family from fire requires advance planning for what to do if fi

This includes the use of protective devices, usually smoke alarms, to provide ea

ing of fire, especially at night when they are most vulnerable. However, depend

size and layout of your home and the characteristics of your family, you may ne

more to assure their safety. This brochure was written to provide the informatio

need to decide what you must do to protect your family from fire. 

The Dangers of House Fires

Most home fires occur in the kitchen while cooking and are the leading cause o

from fire. However, they are often extinguished with only minor damage since 

generally present. Common causes of fires at night are carelessly discarded ciga

sparks from fireplaces without spark screens or glass doors, and heating applian

too close to furniture or other combustibles. These fires can be particularly dang

because they may smolder for a long period of time before being discovered by

sleeping residents.
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effects of exposure to these gases can cloud their thinking and slow their rea

they cannot make their escape. This is why it is so crucial for you and your fa

sufficient warning so that you can all escape before your ability to think and 

impaired. In addition, more than half of fatal fires in homes occur when peop

—this represents only a third of a 24-hour day. Therefore, any fire protection 

be able to protect people who are asleep in their bedrooms when fire starts.

Furthermore, nearly half the people killed in home fires each year are eithe

children or adults 65 years old or older. Add people with physical, mental, or 

handicaps, and it is clear that home fire protection must be designed for peop

limitations. That is why every fire safety program should include provisions fo

with special needs.

Children and Fire

Children playing with matches or lighters is a leading cause of home fires and 

which the children and others present are often hurt. Children have a natural 

about fire and are tempted to play with matches or lighters left within their re

many cases, children who start fires have a history of fire setting. Many fire d

offer counseling programs for juveniles who set fires. If your child is setting f

should contact your local fire department for information about counseling b

situation gets out of hand and your child gets hurt. Nevertheless, the most im

thing you can do is to keep all matches and lighters out of the sight and reac

Store them up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.

FIRE STATION
g y 

Therefore, it is crucial for your child’s safety that you hold fire drills in the hom

twice a year to let them practice the right things to do in a fire emergency.

Clothing fires are a significant cause of fire injuries to children (and to adul

set their clothes on fire by getting to close to heat sources such as open fires 

when playing with matches or lighters. Here too, the best defense is a respec

training in what to do if their clothes do catch fire. Their natural reaction is to 

will make the situation worse. STOP, DROP, and ROLL is taught as the correc

has saved many lives in clothing fires. The moment clothes start to burn, stop 

are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll repeatedly t

the flames.

Of course, young children should never be left alone in the home. Even if t

play with fire, unattended children can accidentally start a fire by attempting 

something or by using a heater or electrical appliance in the wrong way. All t

tragic fires occur when young children are left unattended, for even short per

Children’s Sleepwear

In the 1970’s, the hazards of accidental ignition of sleepwear on young childr

addressed through federal legislation. The Flammable Fabrics Act required th

sleepwear (sizes 0-6X) be flame retardant. In a short time, this had a dramati

deaths and injuries reducing them by 95%.

Recently, an increase in injuries has been reported among children sleepin

garments classified as “daywear”

such as tee shirts and jerseys.

These garments look just like

sleepwear but are not fire retardant. The only way to tell the

difference is by careful examination of the garment label.

Therefore, parents should be careful to buy only fire retardant sleepwear for their children in order to

enjoy the fire safety benefits of

these garments. 
4

risk for adults under 65, and hospital stays of more than 40 days are common 

burn victims. Thus, older people need to be especially careful with fire. People 

become victims of fire by falling asleep smoking, either in bed or in a favorite 

especially after consuming alcohol or taking medication. Ashtrays emptied be

dering materials are completely out also start a number of fires in homes of s

Cooking is a major cause of fire injuries among older persons when loose fitt

is ignited as the wearer reaches over a hot burner, or slips and falls onto the 

Smoke Alarms 

One of the most important fire safety devices for the home is the smoke alarm

becoming generally available in the early 1970’s home smoke alarm sales gre

and the price fell, so that by 1991, 88% of US homes had at least one, and ala

be purchased for under $10.
p

alarms have more than half of the fires; second, it is estimated that a third of the s

alarms in place are not working, often due to failure to replace a worn out battery

third, many homes do not have as many smoke alarms as are needed to protect th

occupants properly. In this chapter, we will examine how to protect your family w

smoke alarms. 

How Many Alarms are Needed? 

The primary job of our smoke alarm is to protect you from fires while you are asle

Thus, your alarms should be located between any sleeping persons and the rest o

house – outside bedrooms or sleeping areas. But tests conducted in the 1970’s cle

showed that this might not be enough. 

In multi-story homes, fires on a floor level without a smoke alarm can grow to d

ous conditions before sufficient smoke can rise in a stairway to set off an alarm o

upper floor. Based on this observation, most codes require that additional smoke 

be located on each floor level of the home. 

A closed door provides protection from smoke on the other side, but will also p

smoke from reaching a smoke alarm.

This is particularly a problem in bedrooms. If you sleep with your bedroom

door closed, you should add

a smoke alarm in the bedroom;

particularly if you smoke in the bedroom

or there is a TV, air conditioner, or other

major appliances in the bedroom that

might start a fire. If you sleep with the

bedroom door open, the alarm in the

hall outside will detect a fire in the bedroom or elsewhere.

There are a few places where a smoke

alarm should not be placed. These

include kitchens and garages (cooking

fumes and car exhaust are likely to set

them off) and unheated attics and crawl

spaces (where it can get too cold or hot
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safety devices in any home protection scheme.

What Kind of Smoke Alarm Should You Get? 

There are two types of home smoke alarms available; the ion type and the ph

type. The ion type reacts faster to open flaming fires and is usually the least e

The photoelectric type reacts faster to smoldering fires and is less likely to re

cooking. Both types provide good protection and can be used without worry. 

more than one alarm, you might get one of each. There are also multiple way

smoke alarms. Most operate on a battery (usually 9 volt), which should be rep

least once a year. When the battery needs changing, the smoke alarm will be

every 20 seconds or so, this will persist for a month. This is most likely to sta

dle of the night (when the temperature in the house drops) causing you to ge

remove the battery so you can sleep. To prevent this nuisance you should pic

day and give your alarms new batteries once a year. Some fire safety organiz

mote “change your clocks, change your batteries” when the change is made b

daylight savings time each fall. Always make sure that you use the right batte

required battery type is 

the alarm near where t

goes. Smoke alarms ins

house may be operated 

household electrical po

need battery replaceme

of alarm has a “power 

tell you that the alarm h

Smoke alarms are avai

run on house power bu

battery in case the mai

Both types of alarms ne

tested monthly and bat

be replaced yearly just 

battery-only operated ty
the alarm not closer than 4 inches nor further than 12 inches from the ceiling

should be no closer than 3 feet from supply registers of forced air heating syst

might blow on the alarm preventing it from seeing smoke) and no closer than 

the door to a kitchen or a bathroom containing a shower (steam can set the a

when the door is opened).

If an alarm is mounted on an exterior wall or a ceiling below an unheated a

poorly insulated (the surface gets noticeably cold in the winter and warm in th

the temperature difference can prevent smoke from getting to the alarm. Plac

alarm on an inside wall avoids the problem. In desert climates where evapora

are being used, mount smoke alarms on walls 12 inches below the ceiling. Th

add moisture that can cause the smoke to drop.

Older adults may have difficulty reaching alarms on ceiling to change batte

wired alarms are impractical, wall mounting 12 inches down should be consid

Will You be Able to Hear Your Alarms?

The ultimate test for smoke alarms is their ability to wake you when you are a

generally means that the nearest alarm to the bedroom can be no further awa

the next room with the intervening door open.

Hard-wired alarms can be connected together (with a wire) so when one al

vates, all interconnected alarms go off. Many alarms in new homes have this 

means any alarm in the home can awaken you in your bedroom if the neares

loud enough to do so.

For homes with battery-powered alarms, there are models that contain a ra

transmitter that will activate a receiver that can be placed in the bedroom. An 

of this type is that, when you go vacation, you can give the receiver to a neigh

could call the fire department if a fire starts. Of course, these are a lot more ex

than the simple alarms. 

All battery–powered and most hard-wired smoke alarms use a high-pitched 

horn which is difficult for some people to hear. Test alarms before installation 

sure that all members of the household can hear them clearly.

People with hearing impairments can get smoke alarms with bright, flashin

vibrating signals. To awaken you, the light needs to be over the head of the be

should be rated at least 110 candles. Such bright lights must be powered from 

power, so if it is battery operated, it is probably not bright enough to use in th
8

button that you push to check out the entire alarm, including its sensitivity (ho

smoke it takes to set it off). If the testing mechanism does not work properly, 

should be replaced immediately. Never use open flame devices to test an alarm

Older adults and the physically impaired may have problems reaching their 

test them. There is one brand of smoke alarm on which the test feature can b

by shining a flashlight on it. Another brand has an automatic test that activate

same time and day, once a week. These models can be used where proper tes

not otherwise be done. 

Smoke alarms need no maintenance other than changing batteries (in those 

batteries) and an occasional vacuuming of dust or cobwebs. Every smoke alar

with a homeowner booklet, which describes how to use and take care of that 

alarm. You should read that booklet and keep it in a safe place for future refer

What if Your Alarm “ACTS UP”?

Smoke alarms are highly reliable but can sometimes be fooled by cooking or s

sounds when there is not fire, it may need to be moved a few feet to a new po

where it is not in the way of cooking vapors or steam. It may also have insect

you should take it down and vacuum it out. If it continues to act up, simply re

a new alarm. They are inexpensive and can be purchased at any local hardwa

BATTERY

April
even if they seem to be working. This will assure that the alarm will be work

you need it. 

Even though prices of today’s smoke alarms are less expensive than you m

paid some years ago, today’s alarms are more reliable. Thus, it is usually not 

keeping an old alarm rather than buying a replacement. 

Fire Alarm Systems 

A home fire alarm system is usually part of a total security system providing b

protection in addition to fire protection. Such a system supervises doors, win

spaces within the home for break-in and may provide monitoring services by 

telephone to report a fire or intrusion to a security office, where it will be rep

local police or fire department.

Due to their relatively high cost, these systems are generally found only in 

homes. The system can cost $1000 or more to install, with 24-hour monitorin

adding $15 to $20 per month.
10

tors are connected, along with bells or horns that are activated when the syst

an alarm. Other sensors associated with the burglary functions connect to do

dows or monitor rooms for motion or body heat. The control panel operates f

power but also usually contains an emergency battery which can operate the 

about 24 hours during a power outage.

The basic requirements for the number and locations of alarms are exactly 

with the self-contained alarms discussed previously. The difference is that a f

system gives you more flexibility to locate additional alarms and additional be

(or flashing lights, should a person in the household be hearing impaired).

Fire alarm systems that provide remote monitoring services can also be use

medical alert services. Here a person with health problems who lives alone ca

transmitter that can trigger the system in case they need assistance. Signals r

the monitoring station are identified by type (fire, burglary, medical alert) so t

proper response can be made.

Why Have a Residential Fire Alarm System?

The primary advantage of a home fire alarm system is increased reliability an

to place alarms and bells exactly where needed. However, the reason most pe

them is that they wanted a burglar alarm system and the cost of adding fire a

tures to a residential burglary system is relatively small.

Another advantage is that they are the only way to obtain remote monitorin

This becomes important in cases where family members may not be capable 

from a fire without assistance. For example, if you have an older or physically 

person in your home and a fire started when no one was home to assist that 

alarms alone might not be enough to assure their safety.

A feature of most monitoring services is the ability to keep special informat

residence which comes up on the computer screen whenever an alarm is rec

that home. Thus, if there is a disabled person in the home who needs special 

this fact will be know to the operator and can be passed along to the fire dep

when they are called. 
act quickly and effectively, the extra warning time provided by alarms could b

The best way to assure that your family will do the correct things in an emerg

have an escape plan and practice it. The important factors in a home fire eva

plan are:

Immediately leave the home.

Do not waste any time saving property. Call the fire department (Use 911 if av

from a neighbor’s home. Take the safest exit route, but if you must escape thr

remember to crawl low under the smoke. 

Designated

Meeting

area
12

might be a window onto an adjacent roof or by using an escape ladder (teste

approved by a recognized testing laboratory). Practice escaping by both the p

secondary routes to be sure that windows are not stuck and screens can be t

quickly. Windows and doors with security bars need quick release devices to 

to be opened quickly in an emergency. Practice escaping in the dark. 

Feel the door.

When you come to a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top o

the door knob, and the crack between the door and door frame to make sure 

not on the other side. If it feels hot, use your secondary escape route. Even if 

feels cool, open it carefully. Brace your shoulder against the door and open s

and smoke come in, slam the door and make sure it is securely closed. Use y

escape route. 

Have an arranged meeting place.

If you all meet under a specific tree or at the end of the driveway or front sid

will know that everyone has gotten out safely and no one will be hurt lookin

one who is already safe. Designate one person to go to a neighbor’s home to 

fire department.

Once out, STAY OUT!

Never go back into a burning building for any reason. If someone is missing, 

fighters. They are equipped to perform rescues safely. 
More recently, a new type of sprinkler system has been developed for residen

offers an unprecedented level of fire safety for both lives and property. These 

be addressed in this chapter.

How Much do Residential Sprinklers Cost? 

The cost of a sprinkler system is about $1.50 per square foot in a new home (

square foot home this is $1500). In existing homes they range from $2.50 to $

square foot, depending on how difficult it is to run the pipes. This assumes th

of an adequate and reliable water supply.

How do Residential Sprinklers Differ From

Commercial Sprinklers? 

The sprinklers that you have come to expect in hotels, offices, and other comm

buildings are there primarily to protect property and to protect people who are 

immediate vicinity of the fire’s point of origin. Sprinklers work by limiting the 

impact of the fire to a small area. Sprinklers in commercial buildings use large

of water because fires in these types of buildings can involve large fuel loads. 

Sprinklers used in the home are a special type referred to as residential spri

These sprinklers use a fast acting element to allow the sprinkler to activate w

is still in its very early stages of development. No matter what type of building 

are in, inadvertent operation of the sprinkler system is extremely unlikely. Sm

loads coupled with activation when the fire is smaller allow these sprinklers t

much less water, so much so that the typical home’s domestic water system is 

sufficient for such systems.

Why Are Sprinklers so Powerful? 

The primary reason is that as soon as it activates, the sprinkler sprays water o

ing object and puts out or controls the fire. In fact, the sprinkler system not on

growth of the fire, it also acts directly on the potentially deadly effect of the fir

ple, by lowering the air temperature. 

This means that a combination of sprinklers and smoke alarms can save m

victims of home fires. The principal exceptions are victims who are very close 

when it begins, such as victims of clothing fires, explosions, or flash fires. For 

tial victims, there is no substitute for prevention. 
14

Residential sprinklers discharge water at a low rate, so your home will not be 

(Flooding is not a danger with sprinklers in commercial buildings either.) Afte

out, the supply valve can be simply shut off – but never do this yourself. Alwa

fire department and let the professionals determine when it is safe to shut off

the water. 

Do You Need Smoke Alarms Too? 

YES! Smoke alarms will tend to react first, providing extra time to escape. In 

sufficient smoke can be released to impair judgment or even threaten person

preexisting medical problems before enough heat is released to set off the spr

smoke alarms provide early warning of fires that may start out of range of the 

such as within a wall space. Therefore, it is important that smoke alarms be i

all of the places discussed in Chapter 2. 

FIRE STATION

Sign up

for free

smoke alarm

installation
• Install smoke alarms, either self-contained or as part of a system, outside

bedrooms and on EVERY LEVEL OF THE HOME.

• Test and maintain your alarms as if your life depends on it. IT DOES!

• Make sure everyone can clearly hear the sound of your smoke alarms from

their bedrooms.

• Make an escape plan with two ways out of every room and practice it with

your family.

• Especially when there are family members who cannot escape unassisted,

consider a residential sprinkler system. 
16

Emergency 911/Or: ____________________________________

Record other emergency phone numbers here so you will 

them when you need them.

Fire Department __________________________________________________________

Police Department ________________________________________________________

Poison Control Center ____________________________________________________

Doctor ____________________________________________________________________

Father’s Work ____________________________________________________________

Mother’s Work ____________________________________________________________

Other Important Numbers:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
Alarm Monitoring Center