House Fires

A fire can become life-threatening in just two minutes. According to the Wisconsin State Fire Inspectors Association, there were 40 home fire deaths in the state in 2021. The top causes of home fires include cooking, heating appliances, home electrical wiring, smoking, and candles. Home fires can happen at any time of year, but generally increase during fall and winter months.

FIRE FACTS

FIRES BURN QUICKLY

In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can turn into a major fire. A home can be engulfed in flames in five minutes.

FIRES ARE HOT

Room temperature at floor level can be 100°F and rise to 600°F at eye level. Inhaling the hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin. The average house fire burns at more than 1000°F.

FIRE CREATES DARKNESS

Fire starts out bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.

FIRE IS DEADLY

Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy.

What to do before, during, and after a home fire

BEFORE
  • Install smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases survival chances.
    • Replace batteries twice a year, unless you are using 10-year lithium batteries.
    • Install smoke alarms on every level of you home, including the basement.
    • Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.
    • Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking. It can be a deadly mistake.
    • Audible alarms are available for visually impaired people and smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the hearing impaired.
  • Create and practice a fire escape plan. Every second counts in the event of a fire. Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. Practice your escape plan twice each year.
    • Find two ways to get out of each room in the event the primary way is blocked by smoke or fire.
    • Make sure windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly, and security bars can be properly opened.
    • Practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.
    • Teach children not to hide from family members or firefighters. Have them practice using escape routes.
    • If you use a walker or wheelchair, check all exits to make sure you can get through the doorways.
  • Get insurance. Contact an insurance company for details on protecting your property, whether it is property you own or rent.
  • Make digital copies of valuable documents and records.
  • Sleep with your bedroom door closed.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.
  • Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system.
DURING
  • Drop down to the floor and crawl low, under any smoke to your exit. Heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.
  • Before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door. If either is hot, or there is smoke coming around the door, leave the door closed and use your second way out.
  • If you open a door, open it slowly. Be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or fire is present.
  • If you can’t get to someone needing assistance, leave the home and call 9-1-1. Tell the emergency operator where the person is located.
  • If pets are trapped inside your home, tell firefighters right away.
  • If you cannot get out, close the door and cover vents and cracks around the doors with cloth or tape to keep smoke out. Call 9-1-1. Say where you are and signal for help at a window with a light-colored cloth or flashlight.
  • If your clothes catch fire, STOP, DROP, AND ROLL. Do this by dropping to the ground and covering your face with your hands. Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out. If you or someone else cannot do this, smother the flames with a blanket or towel. Use cool water to treat the burn immediately for three to five minutes. Cover with a clean dry cloth. Get medical help right away.
AFTER
  • Contact your local disaster relief service, such as The Red Cross, if you need temporary housing, food, and medicines.
  • Check with the fire department to make sure your home is safe to enter
  • DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself. The fire department should make sure that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site
  • Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after you make the inventory of your items.
  • Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by insurance companies.
  • Notify your mortgage company of the fire.

Home fire prevention

Home fires can be preventable. The following are simple steps everyone can take to prevent fires.

cooking
  • Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking food. Turn off the stove if you leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time.
  • Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
  • Operate outdoor gas or charcoal grills at least 10 feet away from siding and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher available.
  • Never use a stove range or oven to heat your home.
ELECTRICAL AND APPLIANCE SAFETY
  • Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old, or damaged appliance cords immediately and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.
  • If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
  • Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
Fireplaces and woodstoves
  • Inspect and clean wood-stove pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions.
  • Use a fireplace screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks.
  • Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to sleep.
Portable Space heaters
  • Keep combustible objects at least three feet away from portable heating devices.
  • Only buy heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory.
  • Check to make sure the portable heater has a thermostat control and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over.
  • Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene in kerosene heaters. Never overfill it. Use the heater in a well-ventilated room away from curtains and other flammable items.
Keeping Kids Safe
  • Take the mystery out of fire by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
  • Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach and sight, preferably in a locked cabinet.
  • Never leave children unattended near operating stoves or burning candles, even for a short time.
more tips
  • Keep combustible and flammable liquids away from heat sources.
  • Portable generators should NEVER be used indoors and should only be refueled outdoors and in well ventilated areas.
  • Never leave children unattended near operating stoves or burning candles, even for a short time.

additional resources

U.S. Fire Administration:

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/

National Fire Protection Association:

https://www.nfpa.org/

Wisconsin State Fire Inspectors Association:

https://wsfia.org/