If you experience a house fire, you know we’ll be ready to help you clean up your home and restore it from the damage. But we’d rather not have to do that! We would prefer that you and your family remain safe, and that you don’t ever experience such a devastating loss. Utilize these tips to prevent house fires. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but taking this safety measures will make a fire much less likely, or help you stop one quickly if it does happen.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of the house, focusing on sleeping areas.
- Check your smoke alarms every month and always change batteries when needed.
- Stash a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, and alongside the outdoor grill. Review how to use them before they are ever needed.
- Check window locks and make sure they function correctly, so that family members can escape if needed.
- Teach children how to call 911, and how to give their address to an operator. They should know to escape the home first, and then call for help once they are safe.
- Never leave an unattended oven or stove while hot.
- Avoid wearing loose sleeves or other dangling items when cooking.
- Remove grease buildup from the stovetop regularly.
- Don’t place any items on top of your stove, except of course for pots and pans. Keep in mind that anything left on the cooktop will melt and potentially cause a fire if an eye is accidentally turned on.
- Keep small children out of the kitchen with baby gates. Use an oven latch.
- Check your appliances before leaving the house or going to bed at night.
- Remember to clean the lint trap in the dryer each time you use it.
- Any time your home’s wiring seems to be functioning incorrectly, call an electrician and have it checked.
No matter what you do, accidents can happen. Draw up an emergency plan with your family members, and make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a house fire. Teach small children about firefighters, so that they don’t get frightened and hide when seeing them.
But if a fire does happen, call us right away after you’re safe. We can help you begin the cleanup and restoration process.