If you are renting an apartment, be aware of a fire preparedness plan, as it can help save your life. Apartment fires are usually caused by easily avoidable human error and are therefore preventable. If you are prepared for unexpected danger, you can quickly stop a small accident from becoming a tragedy. When you want to avoid a fire in your apartment, you should consider these safety tips.

Never leave your stove unattended when you are cooking, and don't forget to turn off burners and appliances as soon as food preparation is done. It would help if you take extra care when frying with oil or grease, and always keep clothing and other combustible materials away from flames.

Allow at least three feet of clearance around space heaters. Although wood-burning heaters and fireplaces are less common in apartment buildings, if you do use one, be sure to clean it properly and maintain it. Maintenance of the chimneys should be regularly serviced by a professional. Make sure that any ashes have cooled off before disposing of them, and do not put them in combustible containers such as in paper bags or plastic containers.

It is important to be careful when using candles in your apartment. Make sure to place candles away from curtains and other combustible items and never leave an open flame unattended. Make sure to extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.

Your apartment will be safer if you don't smoke. According to the American Red Cross, "smoking materials are the leading cause of residential fire deaths in the United States."  Always extinguish your cigarettes before disposing of them safely. Keep matches and lighters in a safe place where children can't reach them.

The materials used in some furniture pieces can still ignite quickly and release toxic fumes. Although most of the furniture made nowadays is safer than in the past, take special care to keep candles and other heat sources away from upholstered chairs and sofas.

Apartments with smoke detectors can help protect tenants in case of fire. Ensure that every room in your apartment has a smoke detector. To test the working condition of your smoke detector, try to push the test button once a month to check that the alarm is working. If you find out that your smoke detector is no longer functioning and that it might need a new battery, ask your landlord to take care of it. 

Another way for your apartment to be safer is to keep a fire extinguisher, so you can stop minor fires before they spread. Whether your apartment had a fire extinguisher when you moved in or you bought one yourself, make sure to check if it's up-to-date and working correctly. A fire extinguisher that's been used may need recharging.

Look for fire risks in the common areas of your building. Notify your landlord immediately if you find anything that looks dangerous, such as smoke detectors that beep at random, flammable materials lying around, or missing fire extinguishers. Make sure stairway doors are closed, as they are meant to slow the spread of fire. Do not clutter areas that could block someone's way – especially at night.

If you're living in an apartment, check your space as a whole, for working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Bring up any fire safety concerns you have, and make sure you follow these safety tips so that you can avoid a fire in your apartment.