Bedroom Fire Safety

The bedroom is one of the most common places for a home fire to start, and it's also where a fire is most dangerous — most home fire deaths happen at night while people are asleep. Once a smoke alarm sounds, you may have as little as one to two minutes to get out safely, according to the NFPA.

Common Causes

• Falling asleep while smoking
• Candles left burning unattended
• Overloaded outlets, power strips, and extension cords
• Space heaters placed too close to bedding or curtains

How to Reduce the Risk

• Install a smoke alarm inside every bedroom and outside each sleeping area, tested monthly.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything flammable and turn them off before sleeping.
• Never leave candles burning unattended in a bedroom.
• Avoid daisy-chaining extension cords or overloading a single outlet.

Have Two Ways Out

Every bedroom should have two ways out — typically the door and a window. Practice using both, and agree on an outside meeting spot. See our Fire Escape Planning guide to build a full household plan.

Be Ready to Respond

Keep a stocked fire safety kit on hand in case prevention isn't enough.