City of Midland, TX... Fire Department

FIRE PREVENTION TIPS

FIREWORK SAFETY

The City Of Midland prohibits the use of all fireworks, which includes sparklers, within the city limits and within 5000 feet of the city limits (this includes window pane areas). Use or possession of fireworks within this area is a violation of the fire code and is punishable by fine of up to $2000.00 and will result in confiscation of fireworks.

OUTDOOR COOKING SAFETY

Keep grills at least 10 feet away from houses and overhangs.

Use only properly labeled starter fluid, never substitute gasoline or kerosene.
Never apply fire starter to a smoldering fire. Instead, add dry kindling and blow gently across the coals.
Never leave outdoor cooking unattended.
Charcoal and gas grills are prohibited on apartment balconies or within 10 feet of buildings with combustible siding. Liquefied-petroleum gas containers larger than 2.5 pounds are not allowed to be stored on balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction.

KITCHEN FIRE SAFETY
Kitchen fires are the number one cause of residential fire in the United States. 90% of kitchen fires are cooking related. Simply following these basic fire safety tips can prevent kitchen fires.

“WATCH WHAT YOU HEAT” Never leave cooking unattended. Stay in the kitchen whenever anything is cooking, and do not leave food cooking on your stove or in your oven when you leave home.
Keep appliances clean. Built-up grease catches fire easily. Wipe appliance surfaces after spills and clean stove surfaces and ovens regularly.
Be alert. Studies show that 43 percent of the people who have died in cooking fires were asleep. Do not attempt to cook if you have been drinking alcohol or are drowsy.
Wear close-fitting sleeves. Loose sleeves can dangle too close to hot stove burners and catch fire. Protect yourself by wearing sleeves that fit snugly or rolling up your sleeves securely when you cook.

IF A FIRE STARTS
Smother a grease fire. Never pour water on a cooking fire. If a pan of food catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan and turn off your stove burner.

Fires grow very rapidly and can double in size every 30 seconds. Call 911 immediately after discovering a fire.

Keep Flammable Objects Clear of the Stove
Potholders, dishtowels, and curtains catch fire easily. Keep such items a safe distance from your stove.

Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
Plugging too many kitchen appliances - especially heat-producing appliances such as toasters, coffee pots, waffle irons, or electric frying pans - into the same electrical outlets or circuits could overload your circuit, overheat, or cause a fire. Keep heat-producing appliances out from under cabinets and away from walls or curtains. Replace frayed or cracked electrical cords immediately. If an electrical appliance gets wet inside, have it serviced before using it again.

Microwave Safety
Microwave ovens stay cool, but what’s cooked in them can be very hot. Use pot holders when removing food from microwave ovens. Remove lids from packaged microwave foods carefully to prevent steam burns, and test food temperature before eating. If anything catches fire in your microwave, keep the door closed and turn off or unplug the microwave. Opening the door will only feed oxygen to the fire. Do not use the oven again until it is serviced.

Turn Pot Handles Inward
A pot handle sticking out over the edge of your stove can be bumped in passing or grabbed by a child. Prevent burns and stove-top fires by always turning handles in toward the back of the stove.

Learn First Aid for Burns
Run cool water over a burn for 10 to 15 minutes. This will minimize skin damage and ease the pain. Never apply butter or other grease to a burn. If burned skin is blistered or changed, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Stop, Drop, and Roll
If your clothing catches on fire, do not run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and roll over and over to smother the flames.

General Fire Safety

Smoke Detectors - Your First Line of Defense
Smoke detectors sound an automatic alarm when they sense smoke to alert you of a fire. Make sure you have smoke detectors properly installed throughout your home. There are two kinds of detectors: Ionization and photoelectric.

For the best protection it is strongly recommended that you install combination detectors. Combination dectectors utilize both ionization and photoelectric sensors providing the best possible coverage. If you are unsure about where to install your smoke detectors, call your local fire department.

Make sure your detectors are UL (Underwriter Laboratory) tested.
Install at least one detector on each floor of your home, including the basement.
Check your detectors each month to make sure they are working.
Put a detector at the top of each stairway and at the ends of long hallways near bedrooms.
The newest type of detectors are interconnected so multiple detectors in the home will all sound an alarm alerting occupants.
Keep extra batteries of the correct size on hand for replacement.
Change batteries every 6 months.
Replace smoke detectors if they are over 10 years old.

Fire Extinguisher
Small fires can be put out easily with a fire extinguisher. Class A extinguishers are used for fires involving paper, wood, cloth, and trash. Class B extinguishers are for flammable liquid fires caused by gasoline, kerosene, etc. Class C extinguishers are used for electrical fires.

Inspect all extinguishers monthly and have them serviced annually.
Make sure they are approved by a testing lab like Underwriter Laboratory (UL).
Purchase extinguishers that are large enough to put out small fires, but small enough for you to handle. 2:A,10 :B,C type extinguisher is recommended.
Make sure everyone is out of the building and the fire department has been called before you begin to fight the fire.
Never block your escape route while trying to extinguish the fire.
Use a sweeping motion to completely extinguish the fire. Start at least 8 to 10 feet away from the fire when using an extinguisher and work your way toward the fire.

WINTER FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOME
Room Heating

Colder temperatures bring more risk for residential fires.
Always have central heating units serviced prior to cold weather approaching.
Use a dependable certified company for servicing heating appliances.
Be sure your heater is in good working condition. A dirty or neglected heater is a critical fire hazard and the number one cause of heating related fires.
Be sure all controls and safety devices are in proper working order.
Keep trash and combustible storage away from the heating system
Check the flue pipes. Are they well supported, free of holes and clean?
Electric space heaters need 3 feet of clearance from combustibles for safe proper operation. Never leave space heaters in rooms unattended and with small children.
Never use fuel-burning appliances without proper vents to the outside. Burning fuel (kerosene, coal, or propane, for example) produces deadly fumes.
Install at least one carbon monoxide detector in the home if using fuel fired heating equipment.

MISCELLANEOUS
Frozen pipes? Don’t try to thaw them with a blowtorch or other open flames. Use hot water or a UL (Underwriter Laboratory) labeled device for thawing, otherwise a devastating fire could be the result.

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