Prevent Fires at Home With These Tips from Leading Carriers

The Great Chicago Fire began on October 8, 1871, and devastated the city, destroying 17,400+ structures and burning 2,000 acres of land, leaving 100,000 residents homeless. National Fire Prevention Week happens every October to commemorate this tragedy and serve as a reminder about the importance of fire prevention.

“In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy,” advises The National Fire Prevention Association, “It is important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.”

Hi Marley collected tips and advice from our carrier customers for this year’s National Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11, 2025) to help you stay safe.

Prepare Your Home: Clear Pathways, Free of Debris and Extension Cords  

“In our decades upon decades of claims handling, we’ve seen countless fire losses that could have been avoided if just a small measure of attention was given to simple prevention and safety information,” says Donegal Insurance. Attention includes ensuring you store and use items in your home properly.

Ensure your home has clear pathways. “Sizeable collections of anything flammable and excessive clutter are dangerous in the event of a fire,” writes Arbella Insurance. “Not only can they catch fire more quickly than the home’s structure, but they make it much more difficult for firefighters to rescue anyone trapped inside the house.” Pay close attention to the placement of extension cords, as misuse causes thousands of house fires every year. “Keep extension cords away from furniture (backing a couch or dresser up against a plug can fray the covering over time). Don’t run extension cords under heavily-trafficked carpets, and never use holiday lights as extension cords.”

Store flammable chemicals in a shed away from the home. “Keeping items that combust and burn easily in a small storage shed away from the home is one of the most significant ways to prevent a fire loss in the garage,” writes American Family Insurance.

Clean and Maintain Your Fireplace and Dryer

If your home has a fireplace, Merchants Insurance recommends having your chimney inspected and cleaned annually, and ensuring the area around the hearth is free of debris, decorations, and other materials that may catch fire.

Clean and maintain your dryer if you do laundry at home. According to Vermont Mutual, “Lint build-up within clothes dryer vent pipes and within the dryer body itself is the primary cause of clothes dryer fires. Failure to clean the interior lint screen after each use promotes the accumulation of lint within the dryer body.”

“Clean and empty lint out of the exhaust pipe and the rear of the dryer after every use. After cleaning the lint filter, check closely for tears and rips. Replace damaged lint traps immediately,” says West Bend Insurance. “Never put any synthetic substances such as plastics, foams, rubber, or any pieces of cloth that may have been used to clean any potentially flammable or combustible liquids in the dryer, even if they have been thoroughly washed.”

Do Not Leave Candles or Space Heaters Unattended

American Family also says always remember to blow out your candles and incense when you leave the room. “Candles are near the top of the list of house fire sources because many people will let candles burn unattended. When unmonitored candles are placed near flammable objects like furniture, curtains or carpet, devastating results can occur if the candle falls or its enclosure overheats.”

Space heaters are another household appliance that causes thousands of fires every year. Always plug a space heater directly into an outlet and keep a three-foot radius of open space around heaters.

MAPFRE Insurance recommends purchasing a space heater with thermostat control and an auto-shut-off feature that will turn the device off if it falls over. Merchants Insurance provides additional advice: turn off the heater whenever you leave the room, never use a space heater to dry clothing and never leave the heater on while sleeping.”

Test Smoke Detectors Regularly

Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are two of the best ways to prevent fire-related injuries and deaths in your home. Pekin Insurance recommends having a working smoke detector on every floor and near every bedroom. Check your fire alarms regularly and always replace batteries when necessary.

Union Mutual advocates for replacing the batteries every year: “Do it on the same day every year so you remember – we recommend Daylight Saving Time when you adjust your clocks.” Furthermore, since most people do not know when their smoke detectors expire, replace them every ten years.

Keep Fire Extinguishers Throughout Your Home and Cook with Caution

Since fires can occur anywhere, in addition to having smoke detectors on every floor, keep a fire extinguisher on every level of your home and teach every household member how to use them, says Quincy Mutual.

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of house fires. “If you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling something, stay in the kitchen until the process is complete,” says Indiana Farm Bureau.

The Auto Club Group advises against pouring water on a grease fire: “Always keep a large lid handy when you’re cooking; if a small grease fire starts, you can slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner, quickly extinguishing the fire by starving it of oxygen.”

“Any cooking operations should have a fire extinguisher within easy reach,” advises American Integrity Insurance. “This includes the kitchen stove, ovens, and any outdoor cooking areas, such as a grill or deep fryer. Teach family members to keep one close while cooking and how to operate it if necessary.”

When grilling, keep your grill at least 10 feet away from the home, says American Family Insurance.

Develop a Safety Plan for Your Family 

While taking all of these steps will mitigate the risk of fire, not all fires are preventable. It’s still important to plan for an emergency and develop a safety plan for your entire family.

“Have a fire escape plan for your family,” said Preferred Mutual. “Practice it! Make sure everyone knows two ways to escape from every room.”

Quincy Mutual suggests creating a role for every family member and identifying various exits. Furthermore, “If you have a second or third level to your home, consider keeping a fire ladder in each bedroom. If someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration, and sound.”

If you have children, make sure everyone knows how to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency, says Amica Insurance. “Talk to children regularly about the dangers of fire, matches and lighters − and keep them out of reach.”

Review Your Insurance Policy

As a renter or homeowner, it’s essential to make sure you have the proper insurance coverage to rebuild or replace your belongings in case of a fire.

Most standard home insurance policies cover fire and smoke damage; however, some people may consider upgrading their insurance policy. Donegal Insurance agrees, explaining that a homeowner’s policy only provides limited protection for specific property types. Depending on the values of your possessions, Donegal says, “You may want to insure these items separately under a ‘Personal Articles Floater’ or by special endorsement.”

Merchants Insurance also emphasizes the importance of maintaining an itemized list of your property, including photos or videos, to assist insurance adjusters in finalizing claims promptly. And if a fire occurs, contact your carrier immediately to alert them of the incident and begin the claims process, get a copy of the fire report as soon as it’s available, and when it’s safe, recover possessions and make a note of your home inventory.