Never place a detector in front of a wall or ceiling air duct outlet. Make sure they are installed properly and that you have one on every level of you home, including your basement and attic. Even more detectors should be installed if you have a large home. In addition to heat and smoke detectors, fire extinguishers are an important device to have on hand. Although they shouldn't be used on large-spreading fires, they are useful in putting out small, contained fires.
Fire extinguishers come in many sizes and types.
When choosing one, be sure you know what kind of fires you expect to put out with it. The NFPA recommends buying only fire extinguishers tested in accordance with the American National Standards Institute guidelines. Testing information is included on the label. Make sure you learn how to use a fire extinguisher properly, and be sure that all family members have read the operating instructions and understand them. Keep extinguishers where they are readily available and easily accessible to all family members.