Fall Safety

In November of 2009, Albuquerque Fire Rescue responded to 143 fires which caused over $953,000 in damage. We have listed fire safety tips below that can not only prevent fires but may also save your life.

Cooking Tips

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the U.S. When cooking, remember to keep an eye on the range.

• Never leave the cooking area unattended
• If you have to leave the stove, microwave or other cooking appliance for any reason turn the appliance off.
• Turn handles to the center of the stove to prevent spills and to prevent children grabbing hot pans.
• Have a lid handy to smother a pan fire Cooking Fire
• Use approved pot holders, not aprons or towels
• Clean appliances regularly. Watch for grease overflows that can start fires.
• Don't place towels, napkins or other paper products around the stove surface
• Don't wear loose clothing

Most Importantly... Be Prepared for a Fire! One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that alerts you of a fire. A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.

• Make and practice a home fire escape plan and set a meeting place outside.
• Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two escape routes from their bedrooms.
• Call 911 after leaving your home to report a fire emergency.

Halloween Safety

Fire safety tips for Halloween.

• Buy only costumes, wigs and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. If you are making your own costume, choose material that won't easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame. Avoid using billowing or long trailing features. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.
• Provide children with lightweight flashlights to carry for lighting or as part of their costume.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters
• It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in a jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn including trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)
• Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.
• If your children are going to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for exits and plan how they would get out in an emergency.