During Fire Prevention Week – being observed Oct. 4 through 10 – the American Red Cross Heart of the Valley Chapter offers steps you can take to help prevent a fire in your home and keep your loved ones safe.

Both San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties are part of the Heart of the Valley Chapter.

“Across the country, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters a year and most of these are home fires. Across Northern California, our disaster teams have responded to 190 fires since the beginning of 2026,” said Felicia Woolfolk, Executive Director, Heart of the Valley Chapter. “These fires are devastating for the people involved. But there are steps everyone can take which will not only help prevent a fire from starting but also help keep everyone safe should an emergency occur.”

The following are ways to help keep you and your family safe.

Have A Plan

You may have less than two minutes to escape from a burning home. Draw up a household fire escape plan and practice it twice a year.

Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.

Decide where to meet once you get outside. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.

Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.

Time your fire drill and find out how long it took everyone to get out.

If a fire starts in your home, get out safely, then dial 911.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Smoke alarms can cut your risk of dying in a fire nearly in half.

Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.

In addition to testing your alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.

Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.

Here are some tips to focus on preventing fires.

Be Safe In The Kitchen

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. Following some simple steps can help you avoid a cooking fire.

Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.

Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.

Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of three feet around the stove.

Keep anything that can catch on fire – pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains – away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.

Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.

Heat Your Home Safely

Home heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires. As the time of year nears when people turn the heat back on, follow these guidelines to heat your home safely.

Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.

Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.

Space heaters: It’s critical to keep at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, and never leave space heaters unattended.

If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes. And keep children and pets away from the heater.

Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets – never an extension cord. Turn it off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

“According to the National Fire Protection Association, there was a home fire every 23 seconds in 2024 which claimed a life every two hours and 14 minutes,” Woolfolk reported. “During Fire Prevention Week, we here at the Red Cross urge everyone to develop their evacuation plans, check their smoke alarms and help keep the members of their household safe.”