Basement and Garage - FDNY Fire Zone

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	Fires could start in a garage or basement for one simple reason: it's often the place where the components for fire—heat or flames, fuel, and oxygen—are found together.


		Are there stacks and stacks of papers everywhere? Clean them up, recycling as many un-needed papers as possible. Not only does all this paper provide fuel for a possible fire, clutter such as this can be difficult to get past should a fire occur. Is any paper, wood or fabric being stored near open flames or heat sources? If so, move them well away from stoves, boilers or heaters.


		Have all newspapers, furniture and fabric and chemicals (such as paint cans) been moved well away from the boiler or pilot light? If any of these things should get over heated or come in contact with the flame, a fire could result. Has the pilot light been inspected and cleaned recently? Ask an adult to help. To ensure that gas doesn't leak into the house (causing a very dangerous situation) it's important that the flame always stay lit.


		Are liquids such as paint, spray paint, paint thinner, varnish, etc., being stored in an approved, metal cabinet designed for flammable liquids? This is ideal—but if not, make sure the cans and bottles are well away from boilers and water heaters (which have pilot lights) and are kept well out of the reach of children. Are supplies such as bleach, floor polish, dusting spray, etc., being stored well out of the reach of small children? If they're in a cupboard or under the sink, make sure the door has a child-safe latch to keep them safe. Are all the lids and caps on tightly? Spills can lead to both fire and serious injuries.


		Are the liquids being stored in an approved, metal cabinet designed for flammable liquids? This is ideal—but if not, make sure the cans and bottles are well away from boilers and water heaters (which have pilot lights) and are kept well out of the reach of children. Are all the lids and caps on tightly? Spills can lead to both fire and serious injuries. Is the room in which they're being stored well ventilated? The vapor from gasoline is particularly flammable, so it needs plenty of fresh air.


		Has the flu trap—where the ash gathers at the very bottom of the chimney stack—been inspected and cleaned recently? Ask an adult—dirty and broken chimneys can start on fire themselves. Has the chimney itself been inspected and cleaned recently? Ask an adult—dirty and broken chimneys can start on fire themselves. Are all the pipes and connections between the boiler and the chimney in good condition? Ask an adult to help.


		Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. Cars or generators running in a garage can also create levels of carbon monoxide. Have CO alarms (listed by an independent testing laboratory) been installed inside your home to provide early warning of accumulating CO? Do you know the difference between the sound of your smoke alarm and the sound of your CO alarm? Learn it. If your CO alarm sounds, check the battery, then have everyone leave your home. From a safe place, dial 9-1-1, and do not re-enter your house until the firefighters have said it's okay. If a car needs to be warmed up, has it been removed from the garage? Do not run a car, generator, or other fueled engine indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow. During and after a snow storm, have the vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace been cleared of snow build-up? Have fuel-burning household heating equipment (fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, wood and coal stoves, space or portable heaters) and chimneys been inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in? When using a fireplace, has the flu been opened for good ventilation? If a kerosene or gas heater is being used, has a window been opened slightly in the room where they're operating? Only refuel the heater outside, after the device has cooled. Ask an adult to make sure it's legal to operate the heater; in many states they're not allowed.


		Is the grill well away from the house? You don't want any flames, sparks or heat to come in contact with any part of your home. What's on the ground around the grill? The best place for a grill to sit is on stones. Make sure there's no wood mulch near the grill—these small pieces of wood bark can easily catch on fire. Is the charcoal being stored properly? Charcoal should be stored outside, in an airtight, moisture-tight container. Is the lighter fluid being stored properly? Lighter fluid should be stored in a fire-safe, metal container, well away from any matches. If you have a gas grill, is the propane gas tank being used safely? Ask an adult to help check the connection between the tank and the grill, and make sure any unused tanks are stored.

I knew I had a lot of things plugged in to one outlet... but that extension cord got red hot!

It was so confusing in the smoke. And all that stuff I'd kept in the hallway—it was like being caught in a spider's web!