Prepare & Plan for a House Fire - Advice from Fire Damage Repair Professionals
As far as calamitous disasters go there aren't many events as staggering as a fire that destroys your home and personal possessions. A fire in your property is a distressing and an intensely draining event, whether it consumes everything or not. But there are some measures you can implement to lessen the odds of a fire from happening in your home. The fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis knows the severe condition of house fires and that's why it's crucial to know how to prepare your residence and what to do when a fire occurs.Form and Practice an Emergency Strategy for Your Residence
When it comes to house fires, some of them aren't in your control and can't be stopped. That is why it's of the utmost importance to have safety plans in place. Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are a necessity, and make sure you have the right number to accommodate your property. But you should consider installing smoke alarms that can identify smoke from fires caused by electricity, since defective wiring is one of the main causes of house fires. When there are children in the house, you'll want to train them on how the smoke alarm sounds and what to do when one goes off. Other safety procedures consist of outlining fire escape routes in your home. Create a plan and make sure everybody in the house knows the fire escape routes – there needs to be two exits for every room in the house. Also, it's necessary to have a designated meeting spot outside so you know who gets out of the house. Taking inventory of your personal possessions is a good idea for insurance purposes just in case all your stuff is destroyed by the flames. You'll also want to keep important things such as birth certificates and passports in a strong box, and you can create digital replicas and upload them to a cloud drive for added measure.Things to Think about to Decrease House Fire Dangers
Here are a few things to keep in mind so you can lessen the hazards and perils that are connected with house fires:- Cooking: It's essential to be watchful in the kitchen and to not leave food being cooked alone. Always have somebody there to watch what's going on.
- Appliances and Electrical: Shredded cords and broken plugs could easily start a house fire, so make sure to examine your appliances regularly for any problems. Additionally, check up on the switches for your lights since if they're hot, they need to be replaced.
- Portable Heaters: Check that your space heater has a thermostat and a control mechanism, and it needs to switch off if the heater falls over.
- Fireplaces: Obtaining a suitable screen for your fireplace is integral for the safety of your property and everybody in it. Ensure that it is reliable enough to stop logs that roll and flares. You also need to clean and maintain your fireplace and chimney routinely to rid the immensely combustible creosote that forms.
- Children: Educate your children that fire is not something to play with, and make sure to store your lighters and matches in an area that is out of sight and out of reach.
- Smoking: Indoor smoking makes your property vulnerable to house fires, so the best method to prevent a disaster is to smoke outside. When you do smoke inside, have the suitable ashtrays to stop a cigar or cigarette from rolling onto the ground. But if somebody in the house is using oxygen, do not smoke inside as oxygen is extremely combustible.
