How Should You Prepare & Plan for a Fire on in Your Residence? - Fire Damage Repair
As far as calamitous emergencies go there are few things as stunning as a fire that damages your property and belongings. A fire in your residence is a frightening and an emotionally draining situation, whether it damages everything or not. But there are specific measures you can implement to decrease the chances of a fire from happening in your residence. The fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis understands the serious condition 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.Always Have an Emergency Strategy in Position
When it comes to home fires, some of them aren't in your control and can't be avoided. That's why it's integral to have safety plans ready. Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are necessary, and make sure you have the proper amount to accommodate your home. But you should consider installing smoke alarms that can catch smoke from fires caused by electricity, because damaged wiring can be a cause of house fires. When you have children, you'll want to teach them on how the smoke alarm sounds and what to do when in the situation where one goes off. Then get your emergency routes ready. Everyone in the home needs to know two ways to get out from every room and where to congregate outside when a fire occurs. Also, make sure that all members of the household know how to call 911 in the situation of an emergency. Another thing you should do is protect your valuable items such as photographs, birth certificates and passports. You could create digital copies and store them into a cloud drive as a backup, and you can purchase a strong box to keep the hard copies safe too. Finally, take inventory of all your personal belongings for insurance reasons in case they're burned up by the flames.To Minimize the Chances of House Fires Take These Measures
There are some things to recognize so you can lessen the risks and dangers that are commonly associated with house fires:- Fireplaces: Creosote is very flammable and it forms in your fireplace and chimney after it's been in use, so make sure to get your fireplace cleaned and maintained consistently. Obtaining a big, sturdy screen is also essential to prevent sparks from entering the room and rolling logs.
- Portable Heaters: Not under any condition should you leave a portable space heater unattended, and keep flammable or combustible items three feet away from the heater. It's also fundamental for your heater to have the correct safety features. For instance, the heater turns off when it falls over.
- Smoking: Cigarettes and cigars are severe threats for fire, and smoking outside is the best method to prevent a house fire. When you smoke inside, make sure you have deep ashtrays and that under any situation you don't smoke in bed or while you're drowsy. Also, not under any situation should you smoke inside if someone in the house is using oxygen because this is highly combustible.
- Children: Train your children that fire is not a toy, and make sure to keep matches and lighters in an area that is out of reach and out of sight.
- Cooking: The kitchen is one of the most susceptible spots for a fire to happen. It's fundamental to be attentive to what's on the stove or in the oven, and if you have to leave, have somebody watch over it until you return.
- Appliances and Electrical: Worn down cords and broken plugs could easily create a house fire, so make sure to examine your appliances routinely for any problems. Additionally, keep an eye on the switches for your lights because if they're hot, they have to be changed.