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Do these 3 things now to prevent a fast-moving fire in your home

Posted at 4:47 PM, May 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-11 21:15:57-04

Did you know most deadly fires in Las Vegas occur at home where people feel the safest?

It is a false sense of security when it comes to fires, according to fire officials.

The top 3 leading causes of fire in Las Vegas:

  1. Cooking
  2. Electrical
  3. Smoking

Las Vegas Fire and Rescue says there are some commonly over-looked practices people should do right now:

  1. Make sure the lint trap on the dryer is cleared out and free of any debris. 
  2. Keep all objects at least 3 feet away from the water heater. Never store items in a water heater closet.
  3. Never use multiple extension cords or power strips together. This is a common cause of electrical fires.

Tim Szymanski with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue says fire complacency in the home is a deadly mistake.

In addition to the tips above, fire officials recommend dryer vents are professionally cleaned every two years to avoid lint build up.

Szymanski stresses smoke alarms should be installed in bedrooms, hallways leading to bedrooms, kitchens, and on every level of a home.

“That smoke alarm is like a giant nose sniffing the air and when it goes off it’s saying to you “you have 90 seconds to evacuate your home," said Szymanski.

Szymanski says smoke and other smells are undetectable to the human nose while asleep and toxic smoke will actually put people into a deeper sleep.

“You drown in smoke," says Szymanski.

"When someone takes someone’s head and holds it under water maybe in a bath tub or swimming pool you can’t breathe. That’s exactly the conditions inside a home within 90 seconds after catches fire," explains Szymanski.

Szymanski says the key to surviving a fire emergency is preparation and planning.

“In close to my 50 years in this profession, the one thing I would stress to people is to sit down at the kitchen table and have a family talk about what you were going to do in the event of emergency, especially a fire," said Szymanski.

This means activating fire alarms and rehearsing an evacuation from your home.

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