SHERMAN, Tex. -- Next month is fire prevention month. Josh Stevenson has more on what could save your family's life in today's Safe Family report.

Fire departments all over the country will be pulling out all the stops to help your family prepare for a disaster. October is Fire Prevention Awareness Month, and fire officials say the biggest risk to your home and your family may be something as simple as a candle.

"One of the biggest things we’ve identified is improper use of candles,” Sherman Fire Chief Jeff Jones says.

“We have a large population who use candles for atmosphere or aroma, and they leave them unattended or use them to close to something flammable."

Never leave a room with a candle burning, and keep matches and lighters out of the reach of young children.

Preventing fires is only half the equation, the other half is being prepared by asking yourself some tough questions.

"Can your children get out of those bedrooms? Do you have a home escape plan? Do you have a plan once everyone is out? Do you have a safe place to meet? And if something does go wrong, that you crawl low in smoke and that you get to that safe area," Jones says.

Remember, nothing in your home is as valuable as your life.

“The biggest key is once your out, stay out."

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