News You Can Use October 2026

October is Fire Prevention Month…10 Essential Home Fire Safety Tips

• Watch your cooking: Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food. Turn pot handles inward and keep a three-foot kid-free zone around the stove.

• Install smoke alarms: Place working smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Test them monthly.

• Give space heaters space: Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.

• Create a fire escape plan: Design a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room. Practice it with your family at least twice a year. 

• Use electricity safely: Check cords for cracks or fraying and never run cords under rugs. Avoid overloading outlets or plugging multiple cords into one receptacle. 

• Practice candle safety: Keep candles at least 12 inches away from items that burn. Blow them out before leaving the room or going to bed. 

• Secure matches and lighters: Store matches and lighters up high and out-of-reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet. 

• Maintain heating equipment: Have your chimney, furnace, and heating appliances inspected and cleaned by a professional once a year. 

• Know what to do if clothes catch fire: Remember to stop, drop, and roll to smother the flames if your clothing catches fire. 

• Get out and stay out: If a fire occurs, get out immediately, never go back inside for anyone or anything, and call for help from a safe location.

Get more guidelines from the American Red Cross or the National Fire Protection Association.

Fire Safety Tips for Lithium Batteries:

On a flight? Keep it in sight. When on a plane, keep devices where you can see them while charging. Do not charge e-cigarettes or vapes on the plane. Tell a flight attendant if you notice a problem with your device. For tools and rides, charge outside. Charge large items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside when possible. Do not block exits when charging. Cheap charger? Don't chance it. Use the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Soft surface? Hard pass. Charge on a hard, flat surface like a table, desk, or bare floor. Fully charged? Time to unplug. Unplug your device when it is fully charged. Feels hot? Stop using it. Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, smells strange, leaks, smokes, or makes popping or hissing sounds.