Apartment Fire Safety Tips

After a Friday night out on the town, Cheryl was looking forward to coming home to her nice cozy apartment. But she was in for a huge shock. As Cheryl drove up her street she saw a large blaze, and in front of her apartment complex, fire engines. Along with many other residents, Cheryl lost her home. And it turns out that the fire was caused by a faulty electric blanket that she had left on in her apartment.

According to Tom Olshanski, spokesman for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), "fires are burning hotter and faster" because of the high level of plastics in buildings. The poisons and gases emitted during fires are extremely deadly. Olshanski notes that every year over 4,000 people lose their lives and over 25,000 people are injured in apartment fires.

Fires in apartment buildings aren't necessarily something you cause, often times you need to contend with safety hazards caused by your neighbors.

So how can you be sure you're safe in your apartment building?