Fire Safety is Everyone's Responsibility

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 The Maui County Fire Department reminds people that Fire Safety is everyone's responsibility.  Keeping our families and loved ones safe from harm starts at home.  

The following are some pointers to remember and share with your family and friends.

Recognizing Fire Hazards

• Teach your children... What's hot? What's not?
• Children should never play with Matches and lighters.
• If at all possible use battery powered lanterns and flash lights instead of candles.
• Be aware of electrical problems and take care of them (cords, appliances and signs of issues).

In case of emergency call 9-1-1

• Teach your children... What is an emergency? What is not.
• One call for fire, police or ambulance.
• Common questions... name, type of emergency and location.
• Be sure your children know how to use the phone.

Making a fire escape plan for your home

• Draw a home escape plan.
• Plan for two ways out of each room and home.
• Decide on a meeting place outside.
• Practice your escape plan twice a year!
• Teach children NOT to hide in closets or under beds and chairs.
• Teach children how to escape by practicing fire drills.

Smoke Alarms

• Do you have them in the home?
• We recommend one in every sleeping room, one outside of the sleeping area and one on each level of the home. Refer to manufacturers instructions or call for more specifics.
• Change the batteries annually and test them monthly.
• Use the alarm to initiate practice drills.

Even when we do all we can to prevent them, there is still a chance for fires to happen. Here are some tips on how to reduce your chances of getting hurt if there is a fire.

What to do if there is a fire in the home

• When you hear the smoke alarm you should get out immediately.
• When there is smoke you should Stay low and go (Crawling on your hands and knees below the smoke)!
• Before opening a door you should feel the door.
• If the door is hot, do not open it, get to your second exit and get out!
• If the door is cool, peek by opening the door slightly and checking to see if the way is clear, no fire blocking or heavy smoke. If it's clear or just very light smoke you can stay low and go.
• Once out, stay out.
• Go straight to the meeting place.
• If you are on the second floor or higher make sure you make a plan if you cannot get out the window. Buy a safety ladder or get to a window and yell for help.
• If your clothes catch on fire - Stop, Drop and Roll while covering your face.

Firefighters are your friends!  We may look different but we are there to help!

Firefighters dress in turn outs for protection but in front of children they may look scary for young children.

• Visiting the local fire station is a great way to teach children about Fire Fighters and how we are there to help.

Do you have Fire Sprinklers in your home or are considering Fire Sprinklers for a new home?

• In the event of a fire, sprinklers often extinguish the flames before the fire department arrives on the scene. 
• According to the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, the average fire loss in a home with sprinklers is $2,166 vs. $45,019 in a home without sprinklers. 
• Homeowners may also qualify for a discount on the fire portion of their homeowner’s insurance policy.
• Teach your children fire sprinklers are not toys and should not be played with.
• NEVER hang anything on the sprinklers, even temporarily.
• Do not paint the sprinklers. And if you hire painters, make sure they know not to paint them.
• Don’t block the sprinklers with furniture or fabrics. If the spray is blocked the sprinkler cannot put out a fire.
• Most important, DON’T WORRY. Sprinklers are not complicated.
• Average cost of sprinkler installation on Maui is $1.65 per square foot, according to a State Building Code Council report from 2013
• More information found at NFPA.org.

*Additional fire and life safety messages may be used for education specific subjects. Additional messages cited from credible sources only, NFPA Educational Messages Advisory Committee, Home Safety Council and United States Fire Administration.