First, it's important that your home has smoke detectors in every room. If not, this should be your first priority. Most modern homes all come standard with smoke detectors, so this should only be the case if you have an older home. Then, it's important to remember to test your smoke detectors regularly. Most run off your electricity but have batteries as backup power. Usually, your smoke detectors will beep when it's a low battery. However, it's a good idea to get into the habit of replacing your smoke detector batteries every year.

It's a good idea to walk about your home with an eye for fire hazards. You'll most definitely notice things you wouldn't have otherwise. Things to look for include items around heat sources, such as your heating vents, radiators, or space heaters. If you burn candles, make sure there is nothing flammable around them. If you use a hair dryer, curling iron, hair straightener, electric blanket, or anything else that produces heat, be aware of what is around it. Remove any fire hazards so your home will be safe and sound.

There's no doubt that a lot of home fires are caused in the kitchen. This can be due to homeowners leaving the kitchen while they cook something on the stovetop, having combustible food on the stovetop when it is in use, or forgetting to unplug electrical appliances, such as home grills and waffle makers. Paper towels or cloth rags can catch fire quite easily when accidentally left on a hot burner. So, too, can your clothes. Fire needs heat to start, so be aware of what produces heat in your kitchen and then what is around it and/or in it.

Admittedly, there is a lot to your electrical wiring that you probably don't know. However, you don't need to be an expert to look for such things as frayed cords, exposed wiring, and loose electrical outlets. Wiring and cords can be damaged with time and by pests who love to chew through them. If you notice odd things with your electrical system, such as frequent flickering lights, discolored wall outlets, or sparks from an outlet, you should call a local electrician for an inspection. Electrical fires are a leading cause of house fires, so staying up-to-speed on your electrical system is prudent, indeed.

Surprisingly, dryers do cause a lot of house fires in the United States. This is because the lint that dryers collect from your clothing is extremely flammable, and since your dryer uses heat, this can catch on fire. Cleaning your lint screen after every load is crucial to preventing house fires. However, it's extremely important to remember to invest in dryer duct cleaning on a regular basis in order to clean the accumulated lint as well.