Install a smoke alarm in the basement. Maintain easy, quick access to your fuse box or circuit breaker panel. If you have oil, gas, or wood-burning equipment in the basement, you should also have a carbon monoxide alarm in your basement.

Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from the furnace, oil burner, wood stoves, and water heater.

Keep stairs free of clutter. Trash should not be stored in the basement.