Fire Safety for Remote Families

Remote work gives you the freedom to choose your home—or your next temporary nest. Maybe you’re living in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains for a month, or perhaps you’re hopping between Airbnbs in the Pacific Northwest. Either way, the sense of adventure is real. But here’s the kicker: every new place comes with its own quirks, and, honestly, not all of them are fire-safe.

I had a close call once in a rental. The kitchen smoke alarm was “decorative” (read: batteries missing), and the fire extinguisher was from 1998. The host? Lovely. The fire safety? Questionable at best. After that, I started running my own 15-minute fire safety check every time I moved in somewhere new. It’s saved me more than once—and it’s surprisingly quick to do.

Why Fire Safety Matters (Even If You’re Just Passing Through)

You might think, “It’s just a few weeks, what could happen?” But according to the U.S. Fire Administration, residential fires cause over $7 billion in property losses annually—much of it in homes just like your rental. And, let’s be real, most short-term rentals don’t go through the rigorous safety checks you’d expect from hotels.

So, what can you do? Take a few minutes to check the basics yourself. It’s low effort for a lot of peace of mind.

My 15-Minute Fire Safety Checklist

“Trust, but verify. Hosts are great, but your safety is your responsibility.”

Smoke Alarms: Walk through each room. Are there working smoke alarms? Press the test button—loud and clear is what you want. Don’t see any? Message the host and ask for one. In a pinch, I travel with a battery-powered smoke alarm (they’re $15 and weigh less than a paperback).
Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Especially important if there’s gas heating, a fireplace, or an attached garage. Same test: press the button.
Fire Extinguisher: Find it. Check the gauge. The needle should be in the green. Outdated or missing? That’s a red flag. I once bought a $20 extinguisher and left it behind for the next guest—pay it forward!
Escape Plan: Look for exits. Windows should open (not painted shut). Doors shouldn’t be blocked. Mentally plan two ways out of every sleeping area.
Address Visibility: Is the house number visible from the street? Emergency services need to find you fast.
Emergency Contacts: Save the local emergency number in your phone. (In the U.S., it’s 911, but elsewhere it can be 112, 999, or something else.) Also, know the address—take a photo of the rental’s welcome binder or jot it on a sticky note by the door.

Rental-Specific Tips

Older homes and quirky cabins are charming, but:

Check for overloaded outlets and extension cords. (Had a rental with five appliances on one power strip—yikes!)
Be cautious with fireplaces and wood stoves. Make sure there’s a fire screen and instructions for safe use.
If you cook, never leave the kitchen unattended. Fires start fast—and, yes, I’ve set off a smoke alarm making bacon.

Tools That Make Life Easier

After a few years of remote life, I keep a tiny “fire kit” in my suitcase. Here’s what’s in it:

Item	Purpose	My Pick
Mini Smoke Detector	For rooms without alarms	First Alert Travel Alarm
Travel-Size Fire Extinguisher	Quick response for small fires	Kidde Kitchen Extinguisher
LED Flashlight	Power outages mean dark escapes	Olight Mini
Portable CO Detector	Carbon monoxide safety anywhere	Kidde Battery CO Alarm
Sticky Notes	For writing down the address by the door	Any brand will do

Fire Safety Checklist (Copy, Print, Share)

Test all smoke and CO alarms
Locate fire extinguisher, check gauge
Find two exits from every bedroom
Ensure windows and doors open easily
Save emergency numbers and address in your phone
Check for visible house number from street
Scan for overloaded outlets and unsafe cords
Review fireplace/wood stove instructions
Identify kitchen fire risks (don’t leave cooking unattended!)
Keep flashlight handy for night or outage

That’s it. It’s not rocket science—just a 15-minute habit. You don’t have to be a firefighter; you just need to be a little more prepared than the average Airbnb host.

Links & Resources

*“A rental is just a building until you make it your (temporary) home. Make it safe, too.”*

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