Requirement
5. Fire Safety at Home
Required
Nine parts, (a) to (i). Several involve your family or another adult.
Notes and warnings
Tip. Three parts of requirement 5 involve your family or another adult: the candle discussion in 5(c), the home inspection in 5(d) and the escape plan and home fire drill in 5(g). Requirement 8 has five demonstrations with flame (a match, flint and steel or a ferro rod, a charcoal fire, a campfire and a camp stove) and ends with teaching other Scouts. Ask your counselor early when and where those can be done.
What this is made of
- 5(a). Preventing the frequent causes of home fires
- 5(b). Preventing seasonal and holiday-related home fires
- 5(c). Light and extinguish a candle safely, then discuss candle safety
- 5(d). Inspect a home for fire safety hazards
- 5(e). Smoke and CO alarms: what is required, and what your home has
- 5(f). Maintain smoke and CO alarms, and plan replacements
- 5(g). A home fire-escape plan, and a home fire drill
- 5(h). If you smell natural gas, and if you smell smoke
- 5(i). How to report a fire
Where this step comes from
- Fire Safety Merit Badge Requirements (Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2026-05-05), Requirement 5 · The Hub titles this requirement "Fire Safety at Home" and lists nine parts, (a) to (i).