Prepare & Plan for a Home Fire - Instruction from Fire Damage Restoration Experts

The fire damage restoration experts at Paul Davis understand how serious home fires can be. Not only can home fires eradicate your residence and personal possessions, but they are emotionally unsettling and make you feel unsafe. Fires can occur without a moment's notice and can be provoked by a number of things, and they can be out of your control such as your neighbor's house being on fire or natural disasters. But there are some steps you can implement to decrease the risk of a home fire in your residence.

Always Have a Fire Escape Strategy in Position

One of the most fundamental things you can do to prepare for a home fire is to have safety practices ready. Because not all fires are avoidable, being safe is necessary. All properties need the correct amount of fire extinguishers and smoke alarms located throughout the property. You should also think about purchasing smoke alarms that detect smoke that is generated by electrical fires because faulty wiring is one of the main 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. Some other safety measures include outlining fire escape routes in your residence. Create a plan and make sure everyone in the home knows the fire escape routes – there should be two exits for each room in the house. Also, it's fundamental to have a designated meeting place outside so you know who gets out of the home and who is absent. Another thing you need to do is protect your important things such as birth certificates, passports and photographs. You can create digital copies and place them into a cloud drive as a backup, and you can buy a fire safe box to keep the real copies secure as well. Lastly, take inventory of all your personal possessions for insurance reasons in the event they're burned up by the flames.

To Minimize the Dangers of Home Fires Perform These Precautions

Although some fires are out of your control, there are some steps you need to take to avoid a home fire:

  • Portable Heaters: It is crucial to relocate any combustible or flammable objects at least three feet from a space heater. {In addition,} you'll need your space heater to have a control mechanism too and other features for safety such as turning off if it falls over.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Test your light switches to see if they need to be replaced. If you touch them and they're hot, that's a clue that they're damaged. Another thing you should do is examine your electrical appliances for torn cords and damaged plugs.
  • Children: Keep any lighters or matches in a place that is out of sight and out of reach from children to avoid their inquisitive nature from starting a fire. Explain to your children that fire is not a toy as well.
  • Cooking: The kitchen is one of the most typical spots for a fire to develop. It's fundamental to be aware of what's in the oven or on the stove, and if you have to step out, have someone watch over it until you come back.
  • Smoking: Indoor smoking makes your property susceptible to home fires, so the finest way to avoid a disaster is to smoke outside. If you do smoke inside, have the proper ashtrays to stop a cigarette or cigar from rolling onto the floor. Nevertheless, if someone in the house is on oxygen, do not smoke inside because oxygen is very combustible.
  • Fireplaces: Creosote is very flammable and it develops in your fireplace after it's been used, so always get your fireplace cleaned and maintained routinely. Getting a large, strong screen is also essential to avoid sparks from entering the room and log rollovers.

Call the Fire Damage Restoration Contractors at Paul Davis

Home fires can occur, whether it's something out of your control or an accident, Paul Davis is here to lend a helping hand. Our fire damage restoration services can restore your home back to normal again. Reach out to Paul Davis at 888-473-7669 and a franchise in your area will be there to help.