Fire and carbon monoxide safety

Guidance from the U.S. Fire Administration, CPSC, and FEMA on the two home hazards that kill fastest — and the equipment that buys you the minutes to get out.

A smoke alarm on every level and outside every sleeping area. Test monthly; replace the whole alarm at 10 years, not just the battery.

Have two ways out of every room and one meeting spot outside. Practice it once with the lights off — that's the version you'll actually use.

Three feet of clear space around space heaters, and never leave one running while you sleep.

Run generators outside, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. Carbon monoxide from a garage generator reaches lethal levels in minutes.

Stay in the kitchen while frying, and keep a lid nearby. Sliding a lid over a grease fire beats every other response — never water.

Sourced from public guidance published by the FTC, CISA, FEMA/Ready.gov, the National Weather Service, NHTSA, CPSC, the U.S. Fire Administration and CDC. Federal works are in the public domain; summaries and checklists on this page are original.

• Grill Safely: 3 Feet From the House — Keep grills at least 3 feet from siding, deck railings, and overhanging branches. Never grill indoors or in a garage. NFPA
• Fireworks: Leave It to the Pros — Sparklers burn at 1,200°F — hot enough to melt metal. The safest fireworks display is a public one. Watch from a distance. CPSC
• Generators go outside — always — Run portable generators at least 20 feet from the house, away from windows, doors, and vents. Generator CO poisoning kills dozens of Americans every year. CPSC
• Smoke Alarm: Test Monthly — Test smoke alarms once a month. Replace batteries once a year, the alarm itself every 10 years. USFA
• Test smoke alarms every month — The U.S. Fire Administration says working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Test monthly, replace batteries yearly, and replace the whole alarm every 10 years. U.S. Fire Administration
• You may have as little as two minutes to escape a home fire — Plan two ways out of every room, pick an outside meeting place, and practice the drill twice a year with everyone in the household. U.S. Fire Administration
• Carbon monoxide is odorless — you need an alarm — Install CO alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas. Never run a generator, grill, or car inside a garage or within 20 feet of a window. CPSC
• Kitchen Fires: Cover the Pan — For a small grease fire, slide a metal lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Never use water on a grease fire. USFA
• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires — Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling. Keep anything flammable at least three feet from the stovetop, and put a lid on a grease fire — never water. U.S. Fire Administration
• Space heaters need three feet of clearance — Plug heaters directly into a wall outlet, never a power strip or extension cord, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep. U.S. Fire Administration
• Clean your dryer lint filter every load — Lint buildup in the filter and vent duct is a leading cause of clothes dryer fires. Also check that the outside vent flap opens when the dryer runs. U.S. Fire Administration