Children should be taught fire safety starting at an early age. The earlier they learn about this, the better. It is encouraged to have your kids attend fire safety basics classes in your local fire department safety house.

Fire safety basics

Below are some of the fire safety basics that should be taught to young kids.

• Keep combustible materials at least a yard away from a flame source such as a stove or fireplace.

• Check smoke detector alarms every month to see if they're functioning reliably. Hold a lighted cigarette near the detector. The smoke should trip the alarm.

• Smoke and fire alarm batteries should be replaced twice a year, ideally when clocks are set in autumn and spring.

• Come up with a fire escape plan. If you detect smoke, crouch low and stay within your escape plan. If the smoke is thick, crawl to an exit using the walls as guide. If the door is too hot to the touch, do not open it and look for another escape route.

Rehearse your fire escape routes

Most house fires are recorded to occur between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are asleep. Because you can be half-awake and unable to think lucidly when a fire breaks out, it's best to have a clear plan of escape to quickly get you out of the fire.

• Get a free home inspection and some fire escape advice from your local fire department.

• Plan several escape routes for every member of the family. Have escape ladders ready if you reside in a multi-level home.

• Agree on a specific meeting place where the entire family can meet after going out of the house.

• Rehearse and time your movements. The entire family should make it out of the house in about two minutes.

An introduction to fire extinguishers

Because fire spreads rapidly, you should lose no time in putting it out. To accomplish this, you need the right equipment for the job. Fire extinguishers have to be installed in the three fire-prone areas in your house:

• The kitchen - install the extinguisher near an exit door. When extinguishing a fire, the exit door should be behind you for a fast escape.

• The garage - install the extinguisher by the door leading inside your home.

• The basement - Place the extinguisher at the stair landing, far from debris and flammable stuff.

To operate the extinguisher, keep in mind the PASS acronym.

• Pull the lock pin.

• Aim the nozzle towards the flame.

• Squeeze the lever.

• Sweep from one side to another as you put out the fire.

Fire extinguishers are available in types A, B and C to address different fires.

• A - used on burning paper, wood or plastics

• B - for putting out flammable liquids like gasoline and kerosene

• C - used for extinguishing fires from electrical origins such as overheated irons, shorted appliances, or computers.

Most fire extinguishers can be stored from five to seven years. A small model can cost around $10 to $15 while a bigger model is sold from $15 to $30. They are designed for easy mounting on wall brackets. Install the bracket on the wall using wood screws then mount the extinguisher on the bracket.