Home Fire Safety Score
How protected is your home right now? This free assessment covers all five core fire safety areas based on NFPA 72 and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code standards. You will receive a score out of 100, a category-by-category breakdown, and a personalized action plan. If you live in a wildfire-risk area, also try our Wildfire Risk Assessment.
13 questionsUnder 3 minutesBased on NFPA 72 & NFPA 101100% free
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AllFirefighter.com
Home Fire Safety Score
Answer 13 questions to receive your personalized fire safety score, category breakdown, and action plan — based on NFPA 72 & NFPA 101 Life Safety Code standards.
Smoke & CO Detection
Alarms, placement & testing
Escape Planning
Exits, drills & meeting point
Fire Prevention
Cooking, dryer & heat sources
Emergency Readiness
Extinguisher & address visibility
13
Questions
~3 min
Duration
Free
Always
Based on NFPA 72, NFPA 101, NFPA 720 & U.S. Fire Administration data
Your Fire Safety Score
Score Breakdown
Priority Improvements
Targeted to your specific answers
Educational assessment based on NFPA guidelines. For a professional inspection, contact your local fire department.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I test my smoke detectors?
NFPA 72 recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button. Many fire departments suggest using the twice-yearly clock changes as a helpful reminder. If the alarm does not sound when tested, replace the batteries immediately. The entire unit should be replaced every 10 years, even if it still appears to function correctly.
How many smoke detectors do I need in my home?
NFPA 72 requires smoke alarms on every level of a home including basements, inside each bedroom, and outside each separate sleeping area. A typical two-story, three-bedroom home needs a minimum of seven smoke alarms. Interconnected alarms -- where all units sound when one activates -- are strongly recommended for maximum warning time, especially at night.
What should my home fire escape plan include?
A complete fire escape plan should identify two ways out of every room (especially bedrooms), designate a specific outdoor meeting point at least 100 feet from the home, include emergency contact numbers, and account for all household members including children, elderly residents, and pets. NFPA recommends practicing the plan at least twice a year, including nighttime drills, since the majority of fatal home fires occur when occupants are asleep.
What does PASS stand for when using a fire extinguisher?
PASS is the standard operating technique for portable fire extinguishers: Pull the safety pin from the handle, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire (not the flames), Squeeze the handle slowly and evenly, and Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the base of the fire. Only attempt to fight a small, contained fire if you have a clear exit route behind you and 911 has already been called.
How often should I clean the dryer lint trap?
The lint filter should be cleaned before or after every single dryer load. The U.S. Fire Administration reports clothes dryers cause approximately 15,000 home fires per year, with failure to clean the lint filter being the leading contributing factor. In addition to daily lint trap cleaning, the dryer exhaust vent duct should be professionally inspected and cleaned at least once annually to remove accumulated lint from inside the duct.
What is the most common cause of home fires in the United States?
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States, accounting for approximately 49 percent of all home fires according to NFPA annual data. Leaving cooking food unattended -- particularly frying or broiling -- is the most frequent scenario. Heating equipment including space heaters and fireplaces is the second leading cause, responsible for 14 percent of all home fires.
Do I need carbon monoxide detectors in my home?
Yes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by any fuel-burning appliance -- furnaces, water heaters, gas stoves, fireplaces, portable generators, and gas dryers. CO is completely odorless and colorless, which makes it impossible to detect without an alarm. NFPA 720 requires CO detectors on every level of a home and within 15 feet of each sleeping area. Carbon monoxide poisoning kills approximately 400 Americans annually and sends over 100,000 to emergency rooms. CO detectors should be replaced every 5 to 7 years.
What type of fire extinguisher should I keep at home?
The NFPA and USFA recommend keeping a multi-purpose dry chemical extinguisher rated ABC in the home, particularly in the kitchen. ABC extinguishers cover ordinary combustibles (Class A: wood, paper, fabric), flammable liquids (Class B: grease, oil, gasoline), and electrical fires (Class C). A 2.5 to 5 pound extinguisher is appropriate for most homes. Mount it in a visible, accessible location -- not inside a cabinet -- and check the pressure gauge monthly.
How close to a heat source can curtains, furniture, and other flammables be?
NFPA recommends maintaining a minimum 3-foot circle of safety around all heat sources at all times. This applies to space heaters, fireplaces, candles, stoves, and electric baseboards. Curtains, towels, paper, clothing, and upholstered furniture should all be kept at least 3 feet away from any open flame or active heating element. Space heaters placed too close to flammable materials are involved in 1 in 5 home heating fires.
What score on this assessment means my home is fire-safe?
A score of 76 or higher indicates your home is well protected with only minor gaps to address. A score of 61 to 75 (Moderate Risk) means several important protections are missing and should be addressed within the next 30 to 60 days. A score below 61 indicates meaningful fire safety deficiencies -- the most urgent priorities are installing working smoke alarms on every level and creating a practiced escape plan, as these two measures have the greatest statistical impact on surviving a home fire.
About This Assessment
This home fire safety assessment was developed by the AllFirefighter team using standards and statistical data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The 100-point scoring system allocates points across five categories weighted by their documented impact on fire fatalities and property loss outcomes. All questions are aligned with the minimum requirements defined in NFPA 72, NFPA 101, NFPA 720, and NFPA 10.
Sources & References
- NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (2022 edition)
- NFPA 101: Life Safety Code (2021 edition)
- NFPA 720: Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide Detection and Warning Equipment
- NFPA 10: Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers
- NFPA Research: "Home Structure Fires" (2024 annual report)
- U.S. Fire Administration (USFA): Home Fire Statistics 2024
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