Free Home Fire Safety Inspection

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department will provide, upon request, free Home Fire Safety Inspections. The firefighters will check your home and offer fire safety tips and suggestions to safe guard your family from the threat of fire. The fire safety inspection typically lasts less than an hour and is conducted by your neighborhood fire station. An adult must be present during the inspection. A copy of the inspection findings will be given to the resident along with suggestions. A follow-up appointment may also be requested. Our goal in providing this service is to make sure that your home is as free of fire hazards as possible. No fines or citations are issued on residential occupancies, rather we simply wish to assist you in making your home fire safe!

To schedule your free Home Fire Safety Inspection call 805 681-5500 or contact your local fire station. Click here to find the fire station nearest you.

Home Fire Safety Inspection may include but not be limited to the following:

General Fire Safety

  • Install a smoke detector on each floor of the home
  • Install smoke detectors outside each bedroom area and inside every bedroom. Test smoke detectors twice per year
  • Install a carbon monoxide detector in the home if you have gas appliances or a fire place
  • Install a Class ABC fire extinguisher in the kitchen and garage
  • Create a fire escape plan and practice it with the entire family
  • Select a meeting location outside the home for all family members to gather after leaving the home during a fire
  • Teach family members how to get down low and crawl out of the home to safety
  • Teach children how to Stop-Drop-Roll should their clothing catch on fire
  • Teach all family members how to dial 911 for emergencies

Exterior Inspection

  • Make sure house address is visible from street
  • Trim trees away from electrical power lines
  • Trim trees away from house, gutters, roof, sheds, fences, etc
  • Avoid stacking fire wood next to house
  • Fire pits should be located a safe distance away from home, always use a metal screen cover and the smoke cannot create a nuisance to your neighbors

Heating Equipment

  • Keep space heaters a minimum of three feet from drapes, beds, clothing and all combustibles
  • Avoid using fuel supplied space heaters inside the home
  • Do not use stove/oven to heat home
  • Replace air/heat filters monthly
  • Clean lint from clothes dryer after each use
  • Install a spark screen in front of the fireplace
  • Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually
  • Inspect the spark arrestor on the chimney top
  • Build small fires in the fireplace using commercially purchased logs or well-seasoned hard woods
  • Dispose of fireplace ashes in a metal container
  • Unplug hair dryer, hair straighter, curling iron, etc. after use

Electrical

  • Avoid overloading outlets
  • Avoid using extension cords in place of permanent wiring
  • Use UL approved power strips with a circuit breaker
  • Do not run power cords under rugs or carpet
  • Maintain air space around electrical equipment such as television, stereo equipment, etc.
  • Breakers that trip often indicate that an electrical problem is occurring, and a qualified electrician should be notified
  • Use a qualified electrician to install or repair electrical appliances, fans, lights, etc.

Cooking

  • Never leave cooking unattended
  • Turn pot handles away from stove edge to avoid hot liquid burns
  • Use proper temperature and cooking time specified for recipe
  • Keep combustibles away from top of stove
  • Turn off valve on gas BBQ tank after grilling
  • Use BBQ grills outdoors away from home

Garage

  • Allow lawn mower to cool down before storing in garage
  • Keep combustibles away from gas water heater
  • Store flammables in approved containers
  • Carefully store hazardous materials including flammables, lawn chemicals, pool supplies, cleaning products, automotive products, etc. separate from each other
  • Assure that all chemical products are stored in their original containers with label intact
  • Dispose of out-of-date chemicals by disposing at selected hazardous waste locations

Candles & Flame

  • Avoid leaving candles unattended
  • Place candles in sturdy holders with a protective globe
  • Never leave the home with candles still burning
  • Keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children

Fire Prevention Tips

Each year about 150 people are killed and $200 million in property is destroyed in fires attributed to children playing with fire. Children make up 15-20% of all fire deaths.

We want to encourage parents to teach children at an early age about the dangers of fire. Children under five are curious about fire. Often what begins as a natural exploration of the unknown can lead to tragedy.

  • At home, children usually play with fire in bedrooms, in closets and under beds. These are “secret” places where there are a lot of things that catch fire easily. Supervise young children closely. Do not leave them alone even for short periods of time.
  • Keep matches and lighters in a secured drawer or cabinet.
  • Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters.
  • Check under beds and in closets for burned matches or other evidence that your child may be playing with fire.
  • Develop a home fire escape plan, practice it with your children and designate a meeting place outside.
  • Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
  • Teach children the nature of fire. It is FAST, HOT, DARK and DEADLY!
  • Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly and call for help from another location.
  • Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the house and stay out in the case of fire.
  • Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes catch fire.
  • Install smoke alarms on every level in your home.
  • Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.
  • Test the smoke alarm each month and replace the battery at least once a year and replace the smoke alarm every ten years.