The Value of Planning for Home Fires - How to Plan & Prepare

When it comes to tough life events, there aren't many events as draining than a fire that destroys your house and personal possessions. As a fire damage restoration company, Paul Davis knows what a severe threat home fires are. Out of nowhere, it just takes a couple of minutes before flames are ignited. A fire in your house is a horrible and emotionally draining situation, even if it damages everything or not. But you can undertake specific things to make sure that you are ready for when a fire happens.

Create and Implement an Emergency Plan

One of the more essential things you can do to plan for a home fire is to have safety measures ready. Since not all fires are avoidable, being safe is necessary. All properties need the right amount of fire extinguishers and smoke alarms set around the property. Additionally, you should consider buying smoke alarms that trigger from smoke that is generated by electrical fires since faulty wiring is one of the primary culprits of home fires. Kids in the home should be taught what the smoke alarm sounds like when it goes off and what to do when it does. Implement plans for emergency fire routes and ensure everybody knows about them. There should be two exits out of every room in the residence. Also, you'll need to have a planned meeting location outside of the residence so that you're sure everybody makes it out safely. Taking inventory of your personal property is a good idea for insurance reasons in case all your property is destroyed by the flames. Additionally, you'll want to keep valuable documents like passports and birth certificates in a fire safe box, and you can create digital copies and upload them to a cloud drive for added measure.

What to Keep in Mind to Decrease Home Fire Hazards

While some fires aren't preventable, there are a few things you can do to minimize the possibilities of a fire from developing in your house:

  • Portable Heaters: It's of the utmost importance to place any combustible or flammable items at least three feet from a space heater. {Also,} you will need your heater to have a control mechanism as well as other safety features such as shutting off when the heater falls over.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Make sure to do a routine check on your electrical appliances and ensure the plugs and cords are in working condition. If your light switches are hot to the touch, then it's time to switch them out.
  • Children: Store any lighters or matches in an area that is out of reach and out of sight from children to stop their curiosity from lighting a fire. Educate your children that fire is not something to play with as well.
  • Cooking: The kitchen is one of the more typical places for a fire to develop. It's essential to pay attention to what's in the oven or on the stove, and when you need to leave, have somebody keep an eye on it until you return.
  • Smoking: Smoking outside is the best method to avert a home fire from taking place. Don't smoke inside if someone in the house is using oxygen because oxygen is highly combustible. If you smoke inside, don't smoke while drowsy or in bed and have ashtrays that are deep.
  • Fireplaces: It's important to clean consistently and examine your fireplace and chimney for damages and creosote. Use a fireplace screen that is strong and large enough to prevent rolling logs and catch flying sparks.

For Fire Damage Repair Services - Get in Touch with Paul Davis for First-Rate Help Today

If you experience a home fire, don't hesitate to reach out to Paul Davis. Our professional team has the skills you need with fire damage repair services and we can have your residence back to a habitable condition. Contact Paul Davis at 888-473-7669 and a local franchise near your location will be available to help out.