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# Severe Weather Fire Safety

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##### In this section

                - Home Fires                   - Learn About Fire
                  - Prepare for Fire
                  - Prevent Fires                     - Appliances & Electrical
                    - Basements & Garages
                    - Batteries
                    - Candles
                    - Cooking
                    - Heating
                    - Holiday
                    - Home Hazardous Materials
                    - Severe Weather
                  - At-Risk Audiences
                  - After a Fire
                - Arson & Youth Firesetting
                - Hotels & Vacation Rentals
                - Outdoor Fires/Wildfires
                - Vehicle Fires
                - Workplace Fires
                - Life Safety Hazards
                - Fire Is Everyone’s Fight®
                - Fire Prevention Officials
                - CRR Blog

Severe weather can happen at any time, in any part of the country. That's why it's important for your community to be ready for severe weather events and to understand the fire risks that can come with them.

Did you know:

The town of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, experienced several fires during and after Hurricane Isaias.

## Fire hazards during severe weather

          -   Lightning
          -   Portable generators not often used or maintained
          -   Leaking gas lines, damaged gas propane containers and leaking vehicle gas tanks
          -   Appliances and vehicles exposed to water
          -   Debris near severed electrical wires and transformers
          -   Damaged or downed utility lines
          -   Exposed electrical outlets and wiring

##  Messages to share

Never use candles for emergency lighting. Use flashlights and stock up on extra batteries.

Make sure your smoke alarm has a backup battery.

Use surge protectors.

Consider unplugging appliances.

Disconnect motor vehicle batteries in flood-prone areas.

Connect appliances to portable generators with heavy-duty extension cords.

Don't fuel your generator when it is running. Spilling gas on a hot engine can cause a fire.

## Social media graphics and stock photos 

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## Pictographs 

Pictographs can help overcome literacy barriers by communicating messages with pictures. Our pictographs will help you to communicate severe weather fire safety messages to high-risk populations.

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## Handouts

Customize with your logo
              -  English PDF
              -  Spanish PDF

              -  English PDF
              -  Spanish PDF

              -  English PDF
              -  Spanish PDF

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## Video

 https://youtu.be/nZAhqjsT1vI

### More home fire safety resources

          - U.S. Fire Administration publications catalog
          - Appliance and electrical fire safety
          - Candle fire safety
          - Carbon monoxide safety
          - Heating fire safety

#### Other suggested resources

          - Ready.gov

Page last reviewed: Dec. 8, 2023

Be prepared.Be informed.Be safe.

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