A fire can wreak havoc on your home and cause irreparable damage, and while there are some causes that can’t be prevented, if you take the necessary precautions, there are ways you can reduce your risk of a fire starting in your home. In today’s post, we will discuss some of the most common precautions you can take to prevent a house fire and keep your family safe should one occur.
When you’ve had a house fire, it can be devastating for you and your family, but at Global Restoration, we do our best to help restore your home from smoke and fire damage. We offer a variety of high-quality restoration services that can help bring you comfort after a house fire, flood, or another type of natural disaster. We’re proud to serve Georgia as your go-to restoration company, so if you’re in need of our services, reach out to our team today.
Check Smoke Alarms Regularly
One of the easiest ways to avoid a house fire is by installing smoke alarms in each room of your home, especially in areas where there’s a greater potential for a fire to start, such as your kitchen. That being said, simply installing your smoke alarms isn’t going to prevent a house fire. Once you’ve installed the alarms, it’s also vital that you take the time to check that they are working each month, as a broken smoke detector won’t be able to alert you to smoke with enough time to potentially stop the fire from spreading.
Stock Up on Fire Extinguishers
Unlike smoke alarms, it’s not necessary to make sure you have a fire extinguisher in each room of your home, but you should have one on each level of your home, as well as in areas where a fire is more likely. In addition to having a fire extinguisher, you also want to make sure that you keep it in a place where it is easily accessible. It’s also a good idea to ensure that each member of your household knows how to properly use a fire extinguisher in case of an emergency.
Create a Fire Escape Plan
As mentioned above, not all fires are preventable, and for those instances where it isn’t, you want to make sure that you’re prepared. According to the American Red Cross, “you may have as little as two minutes to escape” if a fire starts in your home, and if you’re not prepared, it could put your life and the lives of your family at risk. We recommend taking some time to create a fire plan with your family, especially if you have small children. In addition to creating the plan, it’s also a good idea to practice the plan with in-home fire drills, so that if a fire occurs, everyone knows exactly what to do.
Clear Dryer Lint
When you’re doing laundry, you’re probably not thinking about the fact that your dryer could be a fire hazard. However, the combination of dryer lint and heat could easily result in a fire if you’re not careful. At the very least, it’s important that you clean out your lint trap after each load. Because the lint trap doesn’t always catch every bit of lint, we also recommend having your dryer inspected and cleaned each year to ensure that there isn’t an excess lint or debris that could catch fire.
Practice Caution With Candles
Scented candles are a great way to make your home smell nice and add ambiance, but they can also be the cause of a house fire. We’re not suggesting you should throw out all of your favorite candles to prevent a house fire. Instead, we recommend practicing caution when you burn your candles. Always remember to blow out the candle you’re burning when you leave the room or leave your home. Additionally, when you light a candle, make sure it isn’t near any flammable items such as books or blankets. If you have pets, put the candle out of reach when it’s lit and monitor your pet carefully.
Assess Wiring and Appliances
With electronics and appliances, it’s easy to assume that the cords and wiring are all in pristine condition, but that may not be the case. If you have pets, they could have chewed on the cords, or the cord to an appliance could have been knocked slightly out of the socket. Damaged wires could spark when you’re not paying attention, and if you have wires running under rugs, they could heat up, causing a fire. Consider checking the wires of your appliances and electronics on a regular basis to make sure they are in working condition.
Reach Out to Global Restoration
Even if you take all of the necessary precautions, house fires can still occur. That’s where the team at Global Restoration can help. We know how devastating it can be when there is a fire in your home, but we work hard to restore your home and renew your comfort and security. Learn more about our restoration services, and when you need a restoration company in Georgia, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
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