Fire Safety Tips
Simple steps you can take today to protect your home and family.
Meet Our Fire Safety & Prevention Coordinator
Firefighter Megan Lundell serves as the Rockford Fire Department's Fire Safety and Prevention Coordinator. Megan is your point of contact for fire safety education, smoke alarm requests, and home safety visits. Don't hesitate to reach out — we're here to help keep your family safe.
🔥 Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas
- Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level and near sleeping areas
- Test all alarms monthly by pressing the test button
- Replace batteries at least once a year — change them when you change your clocks
- Replace smoke alarms every 10 years and CO detectors every 5–7 years
- Never disable a smoke alarm — even temporarily while cooking
🏠 Home Escape Plans
- Make a home escape plan and practice it with everyone in your household
- Identify two ways out of every room — a door and a window
- Choose a meeting spot outside your home where everyone will gather
- Make sure all windows and doors can be opened easily from the inside
- Practice your escape plan at least twice a year, including at night
- Once you're out, stay out — never go back into a burning building
- Call 911 from outside or a neighbor's home
🍳 Kitchen & Cooking Fires
- Never leave cooking unattended — most kitchen fires start when no one is watching
- Keep flammable items (towels, paper, packaging) away from the stove
- If a small grease fire starts, slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat — never use water
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it
- Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup
🔥 Heating Safety
- Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything flammable
- Never leave space heaters running while you sleep or leave the room
- Have your chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned annually
- Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from escaping
- Allow fireplace ashes to cool completely before disposing — place in a metal container
- Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home
🌞 Seasonal Safety Tips
- Summer: Never leave a grill unattended — keep it at least 10 feet from your home or deck
- Summer: Check fireworks laws before use — many areas in Minnesota prohibit consumer fireworks
- Fall/Winter: Have your furnace serviced before the heating season begins
- Winter: Never run a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors or in a garage
- Winter: Clear snow and ice from around fire hydrants near your home to help firefighters access them quickly
👧 Child Fire Safety
- Teach children that fire is a tool, not a toy
- Store lighters and matches out of reach and out of sight
- Teach children to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing catches fire
- Make sure children know their home address and how to call 911
- Practice your home escape plan with children regularly
- Never leave young children home alone near open flames or cooking appliances
🧯 Test Your Fire Safety Knowledge
Think you know your fire safety basics? Take our quick 10-question quiz and find out how prepared your household really is.
🧮 Smoke Alarm Calculator
Enter your home details below and we'll tell you exactly how many smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors you need and where to place them.
These are minimum recommendations based on NFPA 72 guidelines. For a personalized home safety assessment, request a free home safety visit from the Rockford Fire Department.
🚨 Request a Free Smoke Alarm
The Rockford Fire Department provides free smoke alarms to residents. Fill out the form below and we will contact you to arrange pickup. Supplies are limited.
Free Home Safety Visits
The Rockford Fire Department offers free home safety visits. We'll walk through your home and help identify potential fire hazards before they become an emergency. Contact us to schedule yours today.