Keep flames from igniting your home

From the second a fire ignites in your home, experts say you may have just two minutes to get out before being overwhelmed by smoke and flames — and just five minutes before the entire structure is engulfed in flames. The key is to prevent the blaze from having an opportunity to get to that point. Here are things you can do: Check the batteries in your smoke alarms once a month, and replace them twice a year. A good rule of thumb is to replace them when you change the clocks in the spring and fall. Get rid of old paints and other flammable liquids you don’t need anymore, and store those you do in wellventilated areas.

Cover all outside vents with tight mesh of ¼ inch openings to prevent embers from floating inside and igniting furniture or inner walls.

Keep a disaster kit within easy reach of the front door — see the planning section in this guide — and make sure valuable documents such as deeds, passports and insurance policies are in one handy place to grab quickly on the way out.

— Kevin Fagan go.” Have them practice escaping each room by crawling along the perimeter to an exit and to “stop, drop and roll” if their clothing catches fire. If children are fearful about fire or fire drills at school or home make them anxious, try visiting a fire station or turning the drills into games, perhaps “Simon says, ‘ Get low and go.’ ” For those in multistory homes or buildings, practice setting up and using escape ladders from a firstfloor window. Not everyone may be able to get out, so family members should be taught how to insulate themselves in a room by closing doors and using towels or duct tape to seal cracks. Those who are stranded should wave a flashlight or lightcolored clothing at the window so firefighters know where they are. Turn on emergency alert notifications on your cell phones. This will allow you to get alerts when a vegetation or other kind of fire becomes a threat. Also, sign up for your county’s emergency alert system if applicable.

— Jill Tucker