Fire Damage Restoration Professional Advice - Planning for a Home Fire

As far as detrimental emergencies go there aren't many situations as overwhelming as a fire that damages your property and personal belongings. A fire in your house is a harrowing and an emotionally exhausting situation, whether it damages everything or not. But there are specific measures you can take to decrease the likelihood of a fire from happening in your residence. The fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis understands the severe situation of house fires and that's why it's essential to know how to prepare your house and what to do when a fire occurs.

Process and Implement an Emergency Plan for Your Property

Safety has to be the first concern when prepping for a house fire, and smoke alarms and fire extinguishers need to be placed throughout the home. Smoke alarms are vital because a fire can come out of the blue and you have to take action as fast as possible. Another thing to consider with smoke alarms is obtaining ones that can recognize smoke caused from electrical fires. Finally, any children residing in the house have to be instructed on how a smoke alarm sounds when it's triggered and what to do when it occurs. Execute plans for emergency fire routes and make sure everyone is mindful of them. There should be two exits from each room in the house. You'll also want to have a planned meeting spot outside of the house so that you're sure everyone makes it out safely. Another thing you need to do is protect your valuable items like birth certificates, passports and photographs. You can create digital replicas and store them into cloud storage as a backup, and you can buy a fire safe box to keep the real copies safe too. Finally, take inventory of all your personal possessions for insurance reasons in the event they're engulfed by the flames.

To Minimize the Dangers of Home Fires Take These Measures

While some fires aren't avoidable, there are a few things you can do to minimize the chances of a fire from happening in your residence:

  • Cooking: The kitchen is one of the more susceptible places for a fire to develop. It's important to pay attention to what's in the oven or on the stove, and when you need to step out, have someone watch over it until you return.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Worn down cords and damaged plugs could easily create a house fire, so make sure to check your appliances regularly for any problems. Additionally, keep an eye on your light switches because if they're hot, they have to be replaced.
  • Portable Heaters: Make sure your heater has a thermostat and a control mechanism, and it should switch off if the heater falls over.
  • Fireplaces: It's important to consistently clean and examine your fireplace for creosote and other damage. Get a screen for your fireplace that is strong and big enough to catch sparks and block logs from rolling.
  • Children: Kids are curious and fire is appealing for them, so educate your kids that fire isn't a toy. Also, keep your lighters and matches in a safe place that is out of sight and out of reach.
  • Smoking: Outdoor smoking is the a great method to avert a house fire from occurring. Don't smoke indoors if someone in the property is using oxygen because it is highly combustible. When you smoke indoors, don't smoke while drowsy or in bed and have ashtrays that are deep.

For Fire Damage Restoration Maintenance - Reach Out to Paul for Professional Help Today

Immediately get in touch with the skillful fire damage restoration team from Paul Davis if your house has had a fire. Our professional team can re-mediate any fire damage and have your house back in a habitable condition. For a Paul Davis franchise near you, get in touch with us at 888-473-7669.