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Whether or not your attic ladder needs to be fire-rated depends on your local building codes, so it’s best to check with your municipal office. However, if your ceiling meets a fire requirement, your attic ladder should as well. There are benefits of opting for a fire-rated ladder. For one, thanks to their fire-resistant material, they'll help protect your home from fire spreading from your attic, if one should break out.

You should only use water to put out a fire in your fireplace in an emergency situation. Even then, it is better to use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire quickly. Make sure every room in your house that has a fireplace also has a fire extinguisher—and that everyone in your household knows how to use one.

You don’t have to put smoke detectors in every room. At a minimum, though, there should be one on every level of your home, one in every bedroom, and one in the hallways outside the bedrooms. If you have a floor without bedrooms, place a smoke detector in the living room or next to any stairs that lead to an upper level. Attics and basements should also have at least one smoke alarm.

If you plan to put a fire pit on a grassy area, be sure to put compacted paver sand down first to help level out the ground and add better heat protection. If you’re placing a fire pit on hardscaping, like a concrete patio, consider placing a fire pit mat down first. This can add more protection from the heat and also protect the look of your hardscaping if you choose to remove the fire pit in the future.