Bowie Volunteer Fire Department

The BVFD recommends taking the following preventive measures to help minimize the chance and effects of fire:

Be careful with candles
Keep candles away from combustible materials. Don't leave children unattended in a room with lit candles. Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Never display lighted candles in windows or near exits.
Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves
Have your chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary prior to the start of every heating season. Use a sturdy screen when burning fires. Burn only wood-never burn paper, including discarded gift wrap, or pine boughs. Do not hang holiday decorations from or on your fireplace if you plan to use it as a heat source.
Check smoke detectors
Make sure detectors are working properly and that new batteries are installed.
Be aware of overuse of electrical outlets
Don't overload your electrical outlets. Be careful of extension cords that present hazardous walkways.
Have one or more working fire extinguishers in your home
Get training from the fire department in how to use them.
Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home
Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that automated fire sprinkler systems typically reduce chances of dying in a fire and reduce the average property loss by one-half to two-thirds where they are used.