What do I need to know about kids and fire?

• Children make up 20% of all fire deaths[1].
• Every year kids set over 100,000 fires. About 20,000 of those are set in homes[1].
• Children as young as age two can strike a match and start a fire.
• Over 30% of the fires that kill children are set by children playing with fire[1].
• Most child fire-play incidents involve matches or lighters[2], so keep these locked up and out of reach of children.
• For more stats visit the United States Fire Administration’s fire statistics page.

Never leave children alone and unsupervised.

What do I need to know about smoke alarms (detectors)?

• You should install at least one smoke detector on every level of your house.
• Kitchens, the tops of stairwells, and halls outside bedrooms are strategic locations.
• They are available at hardware stores and discount stores.
• They are not expensive.
• Having working smoke alarms in your home can double your chances of surviving a fire.
• Regularly vacuum above and around smoke alarms to keep them free of dust.
• Replace batteries at least every year.
• Test smoke alarms periodically.
• Replace smoke alarms after 10 years or as the manufacturer recommends.
• What you need to know about smoke alarms from the US Fire Administration.
• Smoke alarms can save your life—this brochure from the CPSC has diagrams that show the best places to install smoke alarms.
• Los detectores de humo pueden salvarle la vida. 

What should I teach my children about fire safety and what to do in case of a fire?

• Talk about and practice your home fire escape plan with your children.
• Do not play with matches, candles, or lighters.
• Fire is FAST, HOT, DARK AND DEADLY!
• Do not hide from firefighters--teach your kids what they look like and sound like with their oxygen masks on.
• Show kids how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke.
• If there is a fire in the house, get out and stay out.
• Stop, drop and roll if clothes catch fire.
• Do not pick up matches or lighters they find, instead, tell an adult about them immediately.
• Do not go too near wood stoves, radiators, heaters and fireplaces—clothes can catch fire.
• Do not put anything on, or drop anything into radiators or heaters.
• Cook only with permission and supervision.
• Never play with electrical cords or electrical sockets.
• Get help from an adult with plugging things into wall sockets.
• Practice fire safety skills regularly with your kids.
• Visit the United States Fire Administration's Kids' Page with your child to play on the Web and learn more about fire safety.

What should I do if my child has set a fire?

There are many reasons kids might set fires—sometimes it’s a cry for help, or a sign or a sign of serious problems.  However, kids usually start fires simply out of curiosity or by accident.  If your child has played with fire, it’s probably a good idea to talk to your pediatrician about making sure there’s not an underlying problem. 

• Find out more about stopping young fire-starters. 
• Arson Awareness Week is in May. 

Where can I get more information?

• Go through your home with this Home Fire Safety Checklist to make sure you are doing all you can to prevent tragedy.  The checklist is also available in Spanish.
• Be prepared. See these tips on burn first aid.
• The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) provides public education, training, technology and data initiatives to promote fire safety.
• USFA en Español
• The National Fire Protection Association is an international nonprofit and an authority on fire, electrical, and building safety.
• FireSafety.gov is a Federal Web portal with listings of fire safety resources from a number of government agencies.
• SmokeyBear.com offers information about preventing wildfires and has a kids’ section.
• Fire Safety publications from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

Citations:

[1] United States Fire Administration.  Curious kids set fires: teaching children fire safety.  Available at URL: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/safety/atrisk/children/curious.shtm.  Accessed 20 April 2005.

[2] Hall, JR.  Children playing with fire.  Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association; March 2005.

Written and compiled by Kyla Boyse, R.N. Reviewed by faculty and staff at the University of Michigan.

Updated November 2006

U-M Health System Related Sites:
U-M Trauma Burn Center
U-M Pediatrics

Our editorial policy
The information and links we provide are reviewed by University of Michigan developmental and behavioral pediatricians and child psychologists who are experts in child behavioral health. In choosing the links we provide, we use strict criteria to ensure that the information is accurate, and the source is reputable. As much as possible, we focus on information that is based on research. In areas where there is inadequate research, we include information compatible with prevailing expert opinion.

This website is updated regularly, but because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, we cannot be responsible for misinformation that may be accessed through the links provided. As always, this website is not a tool for self-diagnosis, and is not a substitute for professional care.

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