In case of fire ...

Quick! The house is on fire. Smoke is starting to billow. Flames are licking at the kitchen cabinets.

What would you grab - assuming you had time to grab anything besides the kids and Fido?

Fires can spread so quickly, there may be no time to flee with anything but the clothing you're wearing.

And even in situations where people have a few hours to gather possessions - as was the case in some evacuations during the recent Southern California wildfires - they can carry only so much out. What's it gonna be?

For most people, insurance companies say, it's family photos, keepsakes and important documents. Yet few people do much to protect these prized possessions. Sure, they might give it a passing thought when they hear about a fire, but then they forget about it - sometimes with dire consequences.

Saving photos and documents from fire might involve something as simple as keeping copies with friends or relatives, or stashing the originals in a safe-deposit box. But keeping important items together in your house to grab during a fire is not the wisest move.

“You don't know exactly where a fire is going to break out, so where would you put the items you would want to take with you?” says Lorraine Carli, spokeswoman for the National Fire Protection Association.

More important is fire prevention.

“You don't want to know how many times I have to point out circuit overloads, frayed cords, bad extension cords,” says Everett Griggs, owner of El Paso County Electrical in Colorado.

Carli says there are important questions to ask yourself: Do you have an early detection system in place? Do you have insurance? Do you have backups of important documents somewhere other than where you live?

Take whatever precautions you can. And if you still end up having to flee with just the clothing on your back, as one of Griggs' friends did, just do it. At least you'll have escaped with your life.

“Nothing is as precious,” Griggs says.

Home inventory: A first step to recovery

Insurance companies emphasize keeping an updated inventory of your possessions to make claims settlements easier. The inventory will take time to complete, but you'll be glad you have it if disaster strikes.

You can create a written inventory or make one using a camera or video camera. If you use film, have the developer put the photos on disc. If you have a digital camera, save the images to disc or burn a CD. It's good to keep a copy in a safe-deposit box, or with a friend or relative.

Have purchase dates and serial numbers for collectibles, antiques, guns, paintings, clocks, silver, jewelry, furs, electric appliances, power tools and lawn mowers, sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, musical instruments, and all photography, sports and electronic equipment.

It's easiest to start in one corner of the room and work your way around until everything is itemized. Take wide-angle photos of the whole room, then close-ups. Don't forget closets, drawers and the basement. Take a shot of the closet to show how much clothing you have.

Include a family member in the photo to help substantiate ownership.

It's OK to group items together, or take pictures of the room with the important objects clearly visible.

When you photograph collectibles in an album, such as stamps, take pictures of the pages, along with close-ups of the most valuable items. And make sure you can see a portion of your home to substantiate ownership.

Source: State Farm Insurance

Preventing common fires

In the kitchen:

• If a pan catches fire, put a lid on it and turn off the burner. Never pour water on a grease fire; it will spread.

• Keep oven or microwave door closed if fire starts.

• Wear close-fitting sleeves when cooking.

• Turn pot handles towards center of stove so they aren't knocked off.

• Heat oil slowly. It can flash.

• Teach children safe cooking.

• Always unplug toaster ovens after use.

Heat sources:

• Keep combustibles away from space heaters or furnace outlets.

• Clean chimney often if you use it often. Don't put a lot of paper in the fireplace to start a fire. Sparks can catch the chimney or roof.

• Have your furnace and other heating sources checked regularly.

• Use candles carefully. Keep away from combustible items. Trim wicks. Don't let them burn more than four hours or burn to the bottom of container. Blow out candles before going to bed or leaving the room.

• Many candles have been recalled. To find out which ones, go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at cpsc.gov.

Sources: National Fire Protection Association and State Farm Insurance

Safety checklist

Here are some tips from fire-safety experts on how to save yourself and your valuables. Planning is the key in many cases.

Getting out:

• Have a fire escape plan. While schools and workplaces have fire drills, most homeowners don't think about it.

• Draw a floor plan on paper. Diagram two escape routes out of every room possible, including out the windows - even on upper-story floors. Practice your escape routes twice a year.

• Keep your escape routes clear of clutter and heavy furniture.

• If you can't climb out safely, buy non-combustible escape ladders.

• Decide on a meeting place outside that all family members know about, so you can count heads.

Equipment list:

• Fire extinguisher. Know how to use it. But call the fire department and get everyone out of the house before using it.

Extinguishers are good only for small, contained fires, such as in a wastebasket. And be careful because they can actually cause a fire to spread - say, if you try to put out a pan fire, the splatter can ignite nearby cabinets.

• Fire detectors. Check batteries once a month. Change batteries at least twice a year. Detectors wear out. Get a new one about every 10 years - sooner if necessary.

• Automatic sprinkler systems are gaining in popularity. If you are building a new home, have them installed. They are now made to go on only in the area of the fire so water doesn't flood your house.