IS YOUR HOME SAFE
FireSmart Home Assessment Form
FireSmart Landscaping " A guide to protecting your home against wildlife"
TAKE THIS SHORT QUIZ
The answer may surprise you. Fire hazards may be lurking in your home where you least expect them. Take a few minutes to inspect your home for fire hazards. As you go from room to room, circle your responses to the questions below.
Cooking Safety
1. Does an adult always stay in the kitchen when food is cooking on the stove?
Yes / No
2. Are stove tops and nearby counters clear and uncluttered?
Yes / No
3. Do you keep a proper fitting lid near the stove when you are cooking?
Yes / No
4. Are pot handles turned inward so they can’t be bumped?
Yes / No
5. Are curtains, utensils, paper towels and other things that can burn well away from the stove?
Yes / No
6. Is there a “kid-free” zone of one metre around the stove when adults are cooking?
Yes / No
Candle Safety
7. Are candles placed in sturdy holders, out of reach of children and pets so they can’t be knocked over?
Yes / No
8. Do you cover lit candles with glass chimneys, to prevent people or objects from brushing against the
flame?
Yes / No
9. Do you always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed?
Yes / No
Heating Safety
10. If space heaters are used in your home, are they at least one metre away from things that can burn,
including curtains, furniture, pets?
Yes / No
11. Does your fireplace have a sturdy screen to catch sparks?
Yes / No
12. Has your chimney been inspected and cleaned during the past year?
Yes / No
13. Has your furnace been serviced by a professional in the past year?
Yes / No
14. Are propane tanks, gasoline, or other fuels stored safely outside your home?
Yes / No
Smoking, Matches and Lighters
15. Are matches and lighters stored out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet?
Yes / No
16. If you smoke, do you have just one lighter or book of matches and keep it with you at all times?
Yes / No
17. Do you encourage smokers in your household to smoke outside?
Yes / No
Electrical Safety
18. Are electrical cords in good condition, without cracks or frayed areas?
Yes / No
19. Are extension cords used safely? (Not under carpets or across doorways?)
Yes / No
20. Are kitchen appliances – such as the kettle, coffee-maker, toaster oven and microwave, plugged into
separate outlets?
Yes / No
Smoke Alarms
21. Does your home have working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas?
Yes / No
22. Are the batteries working in all your smoke alarms? (Test the battery by pushing the test button. If
there is no button, Press the centre of the cover.)
Yes / No
23. Do you have a designated person to test the smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least
once per year?
Yes / No
Home Fire Escape Planning
24. Are all the exits in your home clear of furniture, toys and clutter?
Yes / No
25. Do you have a home fire escape plan that includes two ways out of every room (if possible)?
Yes / No
26. Have you picked a safe place outside where everyone will meet after exiting the home?
Yes / No
27. Have you practiced a home fire drill with everyone in your household?
Yes / No
What’s your Score?
Add up the number of “yes” responses in your checklist. Give yourself one point for every “yes” response.
Score:______
If you answered “yes” to all of the 27 checklist questions above, congratulations! You are a fire safety expert!
If you answered “yes” to at least 20 questions, you’re well on your way to a fire safe home.
If you answered “yes” to between 15 and 20 questions, you’re on the right track but there is still some work to be done.
If you answered “yes” to fewer than 15 questions, there are some important changes that need to be made around your home to make sure everyone in your home is safe from fire.