During Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10, residents are urged to check smoke alarms, plan escape routes and take precautions when cooking and heating their homes.
Cooking and home heating are leading causes of residential fires, and the American Red Cross is urging residents to take steps to prevent fires and protect their families during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10.
Since the beginning of 2026, disaster teams in the American Red Cross of Western New York region have responded to 527 home fires, according to the organization’s Southern Tier chapter.
“Across the country, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters a year, and most of these are home fires,” said Zachariah Riley, executive director of the chapter. “These fires are devastating for the people involved. But there are steps everyone can take” to prevent fires and stay safe during an emergency.
The Red Cross recommends 20 steps to help households reduce fire risks and prepare for an emergency.
Plan an escape and check smoke alarms
Residents should create a household fire escape plan and practice it twice a year. Everyone should know two ways out of each room and identify a meeting place a safe distance from the home.
A home fire can leave occupants with less than two minutes to escape, the Red Cross said. If a fire breaks out, residents should get outside, stay outside and call 911. They should never re-enter a burning home to retrieve people, pets or belongings.
Smoke alarms can reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half, according to the Red Cross. Alarms should be installed on every level of the home and inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
Residents should test alarms monthly, replace batteries at least once a year if required by the model, and follow manufacturers’ instructions for maintenance. Smoke alarms that are 10 years old or older should be replaced because their sensors can become less sensitive over time.
Children should also learn what smoke alarms sound like and how to respond when they hear one.
Take precautions when cooking
• Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, the Red Cross said. • To reduce the risk, residents should:
• Never leave food cooking unattended. If leaving the kitchen, turn off the stove, and use a timer to help keep track of cooking.
• Avoid loose clothing and dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Keep children at least 3 feet from cooking areas.
• Move flammable items, including towels, paper bags, oven mitts and wooden utensils, away from stovetops, ovens and other heat-producing appliances.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
Heat homes safely
Home heating equipment is the second-leading cause of residential fires, according to the Red Cross. As colder weather approaches, residents should never use a cooking range or oven to heat their homes.
• Fireplaces should never be left unattended, and embers should be extinguished before residents go to bed or leave home. A glass or metal screen can help keep embers inside the fireplace.
• Space heaters should be kept at least 3 feet from anything that can burn and placed on a level, hard, nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. They should be kept away from rugs, bedding and curtains, as well as children and pets.
• Heater power cords should be plugged directly into wall outlets, not extension cords. Space heaters should be turned off whenever residents leave the room or go to sleep.
Riley cited National Fire Protection Association figures showing that a home fire occurred every 23 seconds in 2024, with a person dying in a home fire every 2 hours and 14 minutes.
