FIRE STOPS WITH YOU
Rural Fire Prevention Checklist: A Factsheet on Rural Fire
Safety and Prevention
Self-reliance is the rule for
fire safety for many people. If you live in an area where the
local fire department is more than a few minutes away because of
travel time or distance, or if you are outside the limits of the
nearest town, be sure you know how to be self-reliant in a fire
emergency.
The United States Fire
Administration (USFA) encourages you to use this fire safety
checklist to help you protect yourself, your home and its
surroundings from fire. Remember, fire safety is your personal
responsibility... Fire Stops With You!
Maintain Home Heating
Systems
Have your chimney inspected
and cleaned annually by a certified specialist.
Insulate chimneys and place
spark arresters on top.
Extend the chimney at least
three feet above the roof.
Remove branches hanging
above and around the chimney.
Have A Fire Safety and
Evacuation Plan
Install smoke alarms on
every level of your home.
Test them monthly and
change the batteries at least once a year.
Practice fire escape and
evacuation plans.
Mark the entrance to your
property with signs that are clearly visible.
Know which local emergency
services are available and have those numbers posted.
Provide emergency vehicle
access through roads and driveways at least 12 feet wide
with adequate turnaround space.
Make Your Home
Fire-Resistant
Use fire-resistant and
protective roofing and materials like stone, brick and metal
to protect your home. Avoid using wood materials that offer
the least fire protection.
Keep roofs and eaves clear
of debris.
Cover all exterior vents,
attics and eaves with metal mesh screens no larger than 6
millimeters.
Install multipane windows,
tempered safety glass or fireproof shutters to protect large
windows from radiant heat.
Use fire-resistant
draperies for added window protection.
Keep tools for fire
protection nearby: 100 foot garden hose, shovel, rake,
ladder and buckets.
Make sure water sources,
such as hydrants and ponds, are accessible to the fire
department.
Let Your Landscape Defend
Your Property
Trim grass on a regular
basis up to 100 feet surrounding your home.
Create defensible space by
thinning trees and brush within 30 feet around your home.
Beyond 30 feet, remove dead
wood, debris and low tree branches.
Landscape your property
with fire resistant plants and vegetation to prevent fire
from spreading quickly.
Stack firewood at least 30
feet away from your home and other structures.
Store flammable materials,
liquids and solvents in metal containers outside the home,
at least 30 feet away from structures and wooden fences.
Follow Local Burning Laws
Do not burn trash or other
debris without proper knowledge of local burning laws,
techniques and the safest times of day and year to burn.
Before burning debris in a
wooded area, make sure you notify local authorities and
obtain a burning permit.
Use an approved incinerator
with a safety lid or covering with holes no larger than 3/4
inches.
Create at least a 10 foot
clearing around the incinerator before burning debris.
For More Information
Contact:
The United States Fire Administration
Office of Fire Management Programs
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
