Darby Fire Company No. 1 Fire Prevention

The first step in fighting fires is stopping them before they occur, and if they do occur knowing what to do!

  Programs We Offer

- Fire Prevention Presentations (at your facility)

- Fire Prevention Demonstration (at your facility)

- Fire House Tours

- Apparatus Showing (at your facility or at the station)

  The Process

If you are interested in scheduling an event, please fill out the form below. We will then reach out to you to finalize details.

Not all fires can be prevented – but many can. A lot of the time, prevention is simple and inexpensive – you just have to know what to do. Here, we’ll provide some practical tips for preventing fires year-round and take a look at some special occasions.

Fire Prevention Tips

  General Tips

Install Smoke Alarms: Place smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Test them monthly and replace the batteries once a year.

Create an Escape Plan: Develop and practice a fire escape plan with your family. Ensure everyone knows two ways out of each room and set up a meeting place outside. If you have children who are old enough to stay home alone, make sure they know what to do and where to go in case of a fire.

Keep Flammable Items Away from Heat Sources: Set a safe distance between flammable materials and appliances such as stoves or heaters. Make sure candles are away from flammable items, and keep them safely away from children and pets.

Regularly Inspect Electrical Cords: Check cords regularly for wear and tear. Replace damaged cords immediately to prevent electrical fires.

Use Appliances Safely: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all appliances and avoid overloading electrical outlets.

  Seasonal Tips

Decorations are a fun part of celebrating holidays but they can also pose fire hazards if not handled properly. Keep the party going by keeping everyone safe, healthy, and happy.

  Summer Tips

Make sure to follow all local regulations regarding bonfires, grills, and fireworks. Many areas have restrictions on any type of open flame.

Always use fireworks outside in a clear area away from buildings, vehicles, and flammable materials.

Never relight a “dud” firework.

Have a fire extinguisher, bucket of water, or garden hose ready in case of a fire or other mishap.

Never allow young children to handle fireworks or lighters. Older children should use them only under close adult supervision.

Soak used fireworks in water before disposing of them in a trash can.

Place your grill well away from your home, deck railings, and keep it out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

Remove grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill to reduce the risk of fire.

For gas grills, check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it each year.

Make sure kids and pets stay at least three feet away from grills or fire pits.

Always stay close by to manage the fire and prevent accidents.

  Winter Tips

Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.

Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

Never use your oven to heat your home.

Install a carbon monoxide detector in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home.

Never warm up your car in an enclosed space such as a garage, even if the garage door is open. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many holiday lights or decorations.

Keep your Christmas tree well-watered to prevent it from drying out and becoming highly flammable. Place the tree away from heat sources like fireplaces and heaters.

Inspect holiday lights for frayed wires or broken bulbs before use. Use only lights that are UL-listed and follow the guidelines for indoor or outdoor use.

Use battery-operated candles instead of real candles. If you use real candles, never leave them unattended, and keep them away from decorations and flammable materials.

Ensure your chimney is clean and free of obstructions before using your fireplace.

  Halloween Tips

With all the extra decorations, costumes, and chaos Halloween can bring comes added fire risks that can be easily avoided. From 2014-2018, roughly 770 home fires began with decorations per year.

Keep decorations far away from open flames.

Dried flowers, stalks, and cornstarch catch fire very easily.

Use battery-operated candle sticks or glow sticks and jack-o-lanterns.

Stay away from costumes with long trailing fabric.

Make sure your children stay away from open flames, including those in jack-o-lanterns.

  Thanksgiving Tips

Thanksgiving is the peak day for fires from home cooking with more than three times the daily average. In 2019, US fire departments estimated roughly 1,900 home fires on Thanksgiving.

Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can watch the food.

Stay in the home when cooking turkey and check it occasionally.

Keep children away from the stove, hot foods and liquids, and knives.

Make sure all electric cords from appliances are out of reach of children.

Keep matches and lighters away from children.

Never leave kids alone in a room with a lit candle.

Keep your floors clean so you do not trip.

Make sure all smoke alarms are working.