Portland firefighters urge caution as home fire season begins

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- When it comes to fire safety, a lot of us think of the common reasons for a fire to start, such as lighting a candle near curtains or kitchen accidents.

But other causes that can be overlooked, like cooking fires. These are often caused by turning on a burner or the oven, walking away for a moment, then forgetting about it.

Also bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans can be a major fire hazard, according to firefighters. Whether due faulty wiring, running them too long and dust accumulation.

Without a working smoke detector, that fire could become deadly. According to Jon Harrell, a spokesman with Portland Fire & Rescue, you should check your smoke detectors once a month and replace the entire detector every decade.

"I think it hits home, especially for our community here, that potentially some of these fires could have been stopped in their early stage if those smoke detectors were functioning and were working," he said. "And so we really want our community members to reach out, ask for some help, and let's get those smoke detectors working on our homes."

Other tips to keep you and your family safe involve making and practicing a home fire evacuation plan with your family, establishing a meeting place nearby in case you are separated, as well as having a 72-hour emergency kit with flashlights, food, medications and other essentials.

If you smell smoke, get out of the building, leave everything behind and let the fire crews rescue anyone left inside including pets.