Prepare & Plan for a Home Fire - Advice from Fire Damage Repair Professionals
As far as catastrophic accidents go there are few things as stunning as a fire that ruins your house and possessions. A fire in your residence is a distressing and an intensely draining event, whether it consumes everything or not. But there are some precautions you can implement to decrease the chances of a fire from occurring in your house. The fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis understands the serious condition of house fires and that's why it's vital to know how to plan and prepare your property and what to do when a fire happens.Design and Practice a Fire Escape Strategy for Your Property
When it comes to house fires, not all of them are in your control and can't be avoided. That's why the most effective thing for you to do is have safety plans ready. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are a must, and make sure you have the right number to accommodate your home. But you should think about installing smoke alarms that can identify smoke from fires produced by electricity, because faulty wiring can be a cause of house fires. If you have children, you'll want to teach them on what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when in the situation where one goes off. Implement emergency plans for fire routes and ensure everyone knows about them. It's necessary to have two exits out of each room in the property. You'll also want to have a designated meeting location outside of the property so that you're sure everyone makes it out securely. Making a record of your personal property is a good idea for insurance purposes in case all your property is demolished by the flames. Additionally, you'll want to preserve valuable documents such as passports and birth certificates in a strong box, and you can make digital replicas and upload them to a cloud drive for back ups.To Decrease the Chances of Home Fires Take These Measures
Here are some things to be aware of so you can decrease the risks and hazards that are connected with house fires:- Portable Heaters: Make sure your space heater has a thermostat and a control mechanism, and it should switch off if the heater falls over.
- Appliances and Electrical: Monitor the switches for your lights to see if they have to be replaced. If you touch them and they're hot, that's a clue that they're faulty. In addition, examine your appliances for worn out cords and broken plugs.
- Children: Children are inquisitive and fire is fascinating for them, so instruct your children that fire is not something to play with. Additionally, keep lighters and matches in an area that's out of reach and out of sight.
- Cooking: It's fundamental to be aware in the kitchen and to not ignore food being cooked unattended. Without exception have someone there to watch everything going on.
- Smoking: Inside smoking makes your property vulnerable to house fires, so the best way to avoid a disaster is to smoke outdoors. If you do smoke indoors, make sure you have proper ashtrays to restrain a cigarette or cigar from rolling onto the ground. However, if someone in the home is using oxygen, do not smoke indoors as oxygen is extremely combustible.
- Fireplaces: Creosote is extremely combustible and it forms in your fireplace and chimney after it's been used, so make sure to get your fireplace cleaned and maintained regularly. Having a large, strong screen is also imperative to avoid sparks from coming into the room and log rollovers.
