Contemporary Hazards in the Home Fire Safety Tips and Solutions From the Experts

- Install working smoke alarms
- #CloseBeforeYouDoze
- Have and practice a fire escape plan

[JoseLopez-hpoo]

A smoke alarm saved my butt once. I had an electric space heater in the basement and was upstairs working in a home office. I heard the alarm but at fist thought it to be a back up alarm from a truck. After it persisted for a bit I realized that it was the smoke alarm in the basement. As soon as I entered the stairs to the basement I could see the glow of the fire on the stairwell and the heater looked like a jet afterburner spitting out fire from the fan. Since I placed the heater safely in the center of the room well away from anything flammable it didn't result in any damage aside from the heater. I cut the power and the flames stopped instantly. Let the heater cool off and disposed of it, replaced the smoke alarm with a new one since it was already exposed to smoke.

It turned out almost a year later I found out that heater was involved in a safety recall for fires...well I certainly seen why.

[kevincawann]

Does Fire Safety Research Institute have any videos in Espanol?