Frontline Report
Community Risk Reduction • February 2026
The Complete Home Safety Audit
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85s
A home structure fire is reported every 85 seconds
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60%
Of home fire deaths happen with no working alarms
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WINTER
Dec-Feb are the peak months for heating fires
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This month, the Denton Fire Department is challenging every household in our community to complete a full Home Safety Audit. Most home fires and common household emergencies are preventable with the right preparation and awareness.
How to Use This Checklist
We have assembled 48 critical safety checks based on NFPA data. Walk through your home room by room. Any box you can't mentally "check" is an action item to fix this week.
DID YOU KNOW?
Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 54%.
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Every level covered. Installed on every level of the home, including the basement. |
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Bedrooms protected. Installed inside each bedroom and outside every sleeping area. |
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Interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound. Essential for multi-story homes. |
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Monthly testing. Tested at least once a month using the test button. |
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Less than 10 years old. Check the manufacture date on the back of the unit. Replace if older than 10 years. |
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Batteries are fresh. Replaced annually, or unit uses a sealed 10-year lithium battery. |
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Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors. Installed outside each sleeping area and on every level. |
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1
Alarm
Sounds
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2
Get
Out Fast
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3
Stay
Out
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4
Call
911
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Two exits per room. Every room (especially bedrooms) has at least two ways out, typically a door and a window. |
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Exit paths are clear. Doors and windows used for escape open easily and are never blocked by furniture or clutter. |
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Written plan posted. A drawn floor plan showing all exits is visible to the household. |
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Outside meeting place. A specific spot outside (like a tree or mailbox) is designated for everyone to gather after escaping. |
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Everyone knows the sound. Every person recognizes the smoke alarm and knows to evacuate immediately. |
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Practiced twice a year. The escape plan is drilled, including waking up to the alarm at night. |
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Special needs accounted for. A plan is in place to assist infants, the elderly, or family members with mobility limitations. |
Leading Causes of Home Fires
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Never leave cooking unattended. An adult stays in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling. |
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Stovetop is clean. Free of grease buildup, food residue, and spills. |
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Handles turned inward. Pot handles face the back of the stove to prevent bumps and grabs. |
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Clear zone. Towels, packaging, and oven mitts are kept well away from burners. |
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Lid nearby for grease fires. Keep a matching lid handy to smother grease fires. Never use water! |
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Class K Extinguisher. Consider a Class K extinguisher for the kitchen. Never discharge a standard multipurpose (ABC) extinguisher onto a pan fire—it can shoot burning grease and spread the fire. Class K models are specially designed to smother cooking oil fires safely. |
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Kid-free zone enforced. Children are taught to stay at least 3 feet away from the stove. |
⚠️ Space Heaters account for 4 out of 5 home heating fire deaths.
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The 3-foot rule. Space heaters are kept at least 3 feet away from walls, curtains, and bedding. |
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Stable, flat surface. Portable heaters are placed on a hard floor—never on carpets or tables. |
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Turned off unattended. Heaters are turned off when leaving the room or sleeping. |
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Plugged directly into wall. Never use extension cords or power strips with heating equipment. |
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System inspected. Furnace and chimney professionally inspected in the past 12 months. |
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Fireplace screen. Sturdy screen in place, and ashes disposed of outside in a metal container. |
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Electrical Infrastructure |
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Cords in good condition. No cracked wires; not pinched under furniture or rugs. |
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No overloaded outlets. Multi-plug adapters ("octopus" plugs) are avoided. |
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GFCI protection. Ground-fault circuit interrupters installed near water (kitchens, baths, outdoors). |
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AFCI protection. Arc-fault breakers installed to shut off power if dangerous sparking occurs inside walls. |
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No warning signs ignored. Flickering lights, warm outlets, or buzzing sounds are investigated immediately. |
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Licensed electrician used. Only qualified professionals perform electrical work in the home. |
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Extinguisher on every level. Multi-purpose (ABC-rated) available on all floors, plus a Class K in the kitchen. |
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Accessible and visible. Not buried in closets or behind furniture. |
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Pressure gauge in the green. The needle is in the green (charged) zone. |
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Not expired. Not past its manufacturer expiration date (typically 5 to 12 years). |
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Everyone knows how to use it. Adults understand the limits and the P.A.S.S. technique. |
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Smoke outside only. If anyone in the household smokes, they do so outside the home at all times. |
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Deep, sturdy ashtrays. Ashtrays are large and non-tip. Ashes are never emptied into a trash can. |
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Lighters locked up. Matches and lighters are stored up high in a locked cabinet. |
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General Hazards (Falls & Poisons) |
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Rugs secured. Area rugs have slip-resistant backing or double-sided tape. |
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Stairways well-lit and clear. Stairs have adequate lighting and are free of toys and tripping hazards. |
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Chemicals secured. Cleaning products and medications are locked up and out of reach of children. |
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Water heater set to 120°F. Thermostat is set to 120°F (49°C) to prevent severe scald burns. |
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Address numbers visible. House numbers are at least 4 inches tall and visible from the street at night. |
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Poison Control number posted. (1-800-222-1222) is saved in your phone and visible in the home. |
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Residential Fire Sprinklers |
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Sprinkler system installed. Installed in newly built or recently remodeled homes. |
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System inspected annually. Sprinklers are inspected yearly by a qualified tech and nothing hangs from the heads. |
How Did Your Home Score?
This checklist contains exactly 49 items across 9 categories. Every empty box represents a vulnerability. Count your checkmarks and see where you stand:
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Below 25
Urgent Action
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25 - 39
Needs Work
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40 - 49
Excellent
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Need help with smoke alarms? The Denton Fire Department installs free smoke alarms for Denton residents. Call us at (940) 349-8840.
Need a Professional Opinion?
The Denton Fire Department offers FREE Home Safety Inspections. Let our experts walk through your home with you to identify hidden hazards, test your alarms, and help you build a solid family escape plan.
Schedule Your Free Inspection
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Excellence Through Preparedness
Denton Fire Department Community Risk Reduction
Home safety information adapted from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
For additional videos, fact sheets, and resources, visit nfpa.org/safetytips
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