CFD Home Safety Checklist
A Checklist to Help You Navigate Fire Safety
Most house fires are preventable — and a few small changes can make a big difference. The Cincinnati Fire Department's Home Safety Checklist is a free resource designed to help you spot risks, ask questions, and feel more confident about the safety of your home.
What You're Looking For
During your walkthrough, there are four key areas to consider for home fire safety:
Smoke Alarms
- Working smoke alarms on every floor
- Monthly testing
- Alarms less than 10 years old
- Batteries replaced per the manufacturer's instructions
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Working CO alarms on every level of your home
- Monthly testing
- Alarms less than seven (7) years old
Electric and Heating Safety
- Cords in good condition
- Space heaters plugged directly into the wall and at least three (3) feet from anything that can burn
- Recently inspected heating equipment and properly working appliances
Cooking Safety
- Clean, grease-free appliances
- A 10-foot zone around the stove free of anything that can burn
- Staying in the kitchen and using a timer while cooking
- Cooking appliances that are working correctly
What to Expect
If you have requested a walkthrough as part of your FREE smoke detector installation,* you can expect us to take an additional 20 minutes to complete this checklist with you. We'll go room by room at a comfortable pace, answer questions, and leave you with tips you can use right away.
If you are completing this checklist on your own, download this walkable version to take and make notes.
*At this time, the Cincinnati Fire Department cannot accept requests for home safety walkthroughs outside of those accompanied by a FREE smoke detector request.
Cincinnati Fire Department Mission Statement
"The mission of the Cincinnati Fire Department is to protect lives and property, and to minimize the suffering of its customers during emergencies. The Cincinnati Fire Department strives to quickly restore normalcy to its customers' lives by responding to their needs in an expeditious manner."
The Cincinnati Fire Department was organized in 1853 and is the nation's oldest fully paid professional fire department, which is why we are proud to be "First in the Nation."
The CFD continues to seek new methods and ideas to improve and increase the level of services provided to the citizens of this community. It will continue to provide its hallmark prompt, courteous and professional service that is consistent with the CFD’s tradition and the City of Cincinnati’s high standards.
