The Importance of Preparing for Home Fires - How to Plan & Prepare

The fire damage repair experts from Paul Davis understand how severe house fires can be. Not only can house fires decimate your residence and personal belongings, but they are emotionally unsettling and make you feel unsafe. Fires can happen without a moment's notice and can be produced by a number of variables, so a lot of the time they're out of your control such as natural disasters or your neighbor's house being on fire. Yet, there are a few steps you can implement to decrease the risk of a house fire in your home.

Preparation for House Fire - Property Recovery & Fire Escape Plans

Safety has to be the number one priority when preparing for a house fire, and smoke alarms and fire extinguishers need to be placed throughout the property. Smoke alarms are critical since a fire could come out of nowhere and you have to do something as quickly as possible. Another thing to think about with smoke alarms is buying ones that can detect smoke caused by electrical fires. Lastly, any children residing in the house have to be instructed on what a smoke alarm sounds like when it goes off and what to do when it happens. Come up with fire escape routes and ensure everybody knows about them. It's critical to have two exits from all rooms in the residence. Also, you'll need to have a planned meeting spot outside of the residence so that you're sure everybody makes it out safely. Making a record of your personal possessions is an excellent idea for insurance reasons just in case all your property is demolished by the flames. You'll also want to store important things such as birth certificates and passports in a strong box, and you can create digital copies and upload them to a cloud drive for back ups.

To Lessen the Dangers of a Fire in Your Home Perform These Measures

Although some fires are out of your control, here are some safety measures you need to implement to avoid a house fire:

  • Smoking: Outdoor smoking is the finest way to counter a house fire from occurring. It's very important to not smoke indoors if someone in the property is on oxygen since oxygen is highly combustible. When you smoke inside, don't smoke while drowsy or in bed and have ashtrays that are deep.
  • Children: Store any matches or lighters in a place that is out of reach and out of sight from kids to prevent their curiosity from lighting a fire. Teach your kids that fire is not a toy too.
  • Fireplaces: Having a suitable fireplace screen is necessary for the safety of your residence and everybody in it. Ensure that it's durable enough to prevent sparks and rolling logs. You also should clean and maintain your fireplace routinely to remove the intensely flammable creosote that develops.
  • Portable Heaters: Make sure your heater has a control mechanism and a thermostat, and it should switch off if it falls over.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Perform a periodic examination on your appliances and ensure the plugs and cords are in good condition. Also, when your light switches are hot to the touch, then you need to switch them out.
  • Cooking: The kitchen is one of the more typical spots for a fire to happen. It's critical to pay attention to what's on the stove or in the oven, and if you need to step out, have somebody keep an eye on it until you come back.

Get in Touch with the Fire Damage Repair Professionals from Paul Davis

Home fires happen, whether it's an accident or something out of your control, Paul Davis is here to lend a helping hand. Our fire damage repair services can restore your house back to a livable condition again. Get in touch with us at 888-473-7669 and a franchise in your area will be there to help.