Q: Last week a friend of mine lost everything to a devastating fire -- a neighbor's child was playing with matches. What can I do to protect my family from a loss like that?

A: Our hearts go out to your friend, and we hope nobody was hurt in the fire.

We're glad you raised this issue. Young children are naturally curious about fire, the tools that make it, and how it works. That's why every family should focus on fire prevention. Otherwise, disaster can result -- as you've seen.

First, keep matches and lighters in places where young kids can't get to them. When you use them, be sure to talk to your kids about their dangers, how they're not toys, and how children must never touch them.

We also advise parents of young children not to burn candles while the kids are around -- the flames are just too tempting, and too dangerous.

Think carefully about how your family can best get out of your house in case of fire, and then have a family meeting to talk about the plan. Be sure everyone knows an escape route from every room -- and, ideally, an alternate route, too. Talk about the "stop/drop/roll" strategy, and how crawling is better than walking out in a smoky situation. If your house has a second floor, obtain a rope ladder and talk about how your family would meet and use it. Identify a place for the escaping family to meet outside the house. Once you have a plan, practice, practice, practice until it's second nature. (We do not recommend practicing the actual climb down the rope ladder, but do practice meeting, taking the ladder out of its storage, and putting it in place.)

Every floor in your house (including the basement and attic) should have a working smoke detector. Be sure to replace the batteries every six months. Most people do that when daylight savings time begins and ends.

Do a fire prevention check of your house. Look at places including the lint traps in your dryer and the areas around your furnace and hot water tank, making sure they're clear of flammable materials. Check space heaters and other appliances and make sure their cords are intact and not frayed. Be sure outlets aren't overloaded.

Never leave your kids home alone. If you can't be there, make sure there's a trusted adult on hand, and be sure she or he knows your family's fire safety rules.

If your kids are at day care or preschool, be sure there are fire drills. Ask whether local firefighters come out to talk with the kids. When those things happen, they'll create further opportunities for you to work with your children on fire safety.