# Your Local Council Name

# Homeowner’s Checklist

## How to make your home Fire Safe

**Your Local Council Name**

Your Address

Your City, Your State, Your Zip Code

Your Phone contact

Your internet/e-mail info****

**OUTSIDE**

**1Design/Construction**

__Consider installing residential sprinklers

__Build your home away from ridge tops, canyons and areas between high points on a ridge

__Build your home at least 30-100 feet from your property line

__Use fire resistant materials

__Enclose the underside of eaves, balconies and above ground decks with fire resistant materials

__Try to limit the size and number of windows in your home that face large areas of vegetation 

__Install only dual-paned or triple-paned windows

__Make sure that electric service lines, fuse boxes and circuit breaker panels are installed and maintained as prescribed by code 

__Contact qualified individuals to perform electrical maintenance and repairs

**2Access**

__Identify at least two exit routes from your neighborhood

__Construct roads that allow two-way traffic

__Design road width, grade and curves to allow access for large emergency vehicles

__Construct driveways to allow large emergency equipment to reach your house

__Design bridges to carry heavy emergency vehicles, including bulldozers carried on large trucks

__Post clear road signs to show traffic restrictions such as dead-end roads, and weight and height limitations

__Make sure dead-end roads, and long driveways have turn-around areas wide enough for emergency vehicles

__Construct turnouts along one-way roads

__Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet from driveways

__Cut back overhanging tree branches above roads

__Construct fire barriers such as greenbelts

__Make sure that your street is named or numbered, and a sign is visibly posted at each street intersection

__Make sure that your street name and house number are not duplicated elsewhere in the county

__Post your house address at the beginning of your driveway, or on your house if it is easily visible from the road 

**3Roof**

__Remove branches within 10 feet of your chimney and dead branches overhanging your roof

__Remove dead leaves and needles from your roof and gutters

__Install a fire resistant roof.  Contact your local fire department for current roofing requirements 

__Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with a nonflammable screen of 1/2 inch or smaller mesh

**4Landscape**

__Create a "defensible space" by removing all flammable vegetation at least 30 feet from all structures 

__Never prune near power lines.  Call your local utility company first

__Landscape with fire resistant plants

__On slopes or in high fire hazard areas remove flammable vegetation out to 100 feet or more

__Space native trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart 

__For trees taller than 18 feet, remove lower branches within six feet of the ground

__Maintain all plants by regularly watering, and by removing dead branches, leaves and needles

__Before planting trees close to any power line contact your local utility company to confirm the maximum tree height allowable for that location

**5Yard**

__Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and remove vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles

__Locate LPG tanks (butane and propane) at least 30 feet from any structure and maintain 10 feet of clearance  

__Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves and other debris from your yard

__Contact your local fire department to see if open burning is allowed in your area; if so, obtain a burning permit

__Where burn barrels are allowed, clear flammable materials at least 10 feet around the barrel; cover the open top with a non-flammable screen with mesh no larger than 1/4 inch

**6Emergency Water Supply**

__Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire department standards through one of the following:• a community water/hydrant system• a cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors• a minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons on your property

__Clearly mark all emergency water sources

__Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source

__If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to operate the pump during a power failure

**INSIDE**

**1Kitchen**

**__**Keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen

__Maintain electric and gas stoves in good operating condition

__Keep baking soda on hand to extinguish stove-top grease fires

__Turn the handles of pots and pans containing hot liquids away from the front of the stove

__Install curtains and towel holders away from burners on the stove

__Store matches and lighters out of the reach of children

__Make sure that electrical outlets are designed to handle appliance loads

**2Living Room**

__Install a screen in front of fireplace or wood stove

__Store the ashes from your fireplace (and barbecue) in a metal container and dispose of only when cold

__Clean fireplace chimneys and flues at least once a year

**3Hallway**

__Install smoke detectors between living and sleeping areas 

__Test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries twice a year, when clocks are changed in the spring and fall

__Install child safety plugs (caps) on all electrical outlets

__Replace electrical cords that do not work properly, have loose connections, or are frayed

**4Bedroom**

__If you sleep with the door closed, install a smoke detector in the bedroom

__Turn off electric blankets and other electrical appliances when not in use

__Do not smoke in bed

__If you have security bars on your windows or doors, be sure they have an approved quick-release mechanism so you and your family can get out in the event of a fire

**5Bathroom**

__Disconnect appliances such as curling irons and hair dryers when done; store in a safe location until cool

__Keep items such as towels away from wall and floor heaters

**6Garage**

__Mount a working fire extinguisher in the garage

__Have tools such as a shovel, hoe, rake and bucket available for use in a wildfire emergency

__Install a solid door with self-closing hinges between living areas and the garage

__Dispose of oily rags in  (Underwriters Laboratories) approved metal containers

__Store all combustibles away from ignition sources such as water heaters

__Disconnect electrical tools and appliances when not 

in use

__Allow hot tools such as glue guns and soldering irons to cool before storing

__Properly store flammable liquids in approved containers and away from ignition sources such as pilot lights

**Disaster Preparedness**

__Maintain at least a three-day supply of drinking water, and food that does not require refrigeration and generally does not need cooking 

__Maintain a portable radio, flashlight, emergency cooking equipment, portable lanterns and batteries

__Maintain first aid supplies to treat the injured until help arrives 

__Keep a list of valuables to take with you in an emergency; if possible, store these valuables together 

__Make sure that all family members are ready to 

protect themselves with STOP, DROP AND ROLL

__For safety, securely attach all water heaters and furniture such as cabinets and bookshelves to walls

__Have a contingency plan to enable family members to contact each other.  Establish a family/friend phone tree

__Designate an emergency meeting place outside your home

__Practice emergency exit drills in the house (EDITH) regularly

__Outdoor cooking appliances such as barbecues should never be taken indoors for use as heaters