The Value of Planning for House Fires – How to Plan & Prepare

The fire damage restoration experts from Paul Davis understand how serious house fires are. Not only can house fires demolish your residence and personal belongings, but they are emotionally disconcerting and make you feel unsafe. Fires can happen without a moment’s notice and can be provoked by lots of variables, and they can be out of your control such as your neighbor’s house being on fire or natural disasters. But there are a few steps you can implement to minimize the dangers of a house fire in your home.

At All Times - Have a Fire Escape Strategy in Place

Safety should be the first concern when prepping for a house fire, and fire extinguishers and smoke alarms should be located throughout the home. Smoke alarms are vital since a fire could spring out of the blue and you have to do something as quickly as possible. Something else to think about with smoke alarms is getting ones that can recognize smoke produced by electrical fires. Lastly, any kids living in the house have to be instructed on what a smoke alarm sounds like when it‘s triggered and what to do when it happens.

Come up with emergency plans for fire routes and ensure everyone knows about them. It’s vital to have two exits from each room in the property. You’ll also want to have a designated meeting spot outside of the property so that you know everyone gets out safely.

Something else you should do is secure your valuable things such as passports, photographs and birth certificates. You could make digital copies and store them into a cloud drive as a backup, and you can purchase a strong box to keep the hard copies secure too. Lastly, make a record of all your personal belongings for insurance purposes in the event they’re engulfed by the flames.

To Decrease the Dangers of House Fires Perform These Steps

Despite the fact that some fires are uncontrollable, here are some steps you should implement to prevent a house fire:

  • Smoking: Cigarettes and cigars are severe fire perils, and smoking outside is the best method to prevent a house fire. If you smoke inside, make sure you have deep ashtrays and that you never smoke in bed or while you’re drowsy. Additionally, never smoke inside if someone in the house is using oxygen as this is very explosive.
  • Children: Keep any lighters or matches in a location that is out of reach and out of sight from kids to avoid their inquisitive nature from starting a fire. Educate your kids that fire is not something to play with too.
  • Fireplaces: It’s essential to regularly clean and examine your fireplace for creosote and other damage. Use a fireplace screen that is strong and large enough to catch flying sparks and block logs from rolling.
  • Portable Heaters: It is crucial to relocate any combustible items at least three feet away from a portable heater. {Additionally,} you’ll want your heater to have a control mechanism too and other features for safety such as shutting off if it falls over.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Examine the switches for your lights to see if they have to be changed out. If they’re hot to the touch, that’s a clue that they’re damaged. Additionally, examine your electrical appliances for torn cords and damaged plugs.
  • Cooking: It’s critical to be attentive in the kitchen and to not ignore food being cooked alone. Always have someone there to watch what’s going on.

Call the Fire Damage Restoration Experts from Paul Davis

House fires can occur, whether it’s a mishap or something out of your power, Paul Davis is here to lend a helping hand. Our fire damage restoration services can re-mediate your home back to normal again. Reach out to us at 888-473-7669 and a franchise in your area will be there to help out.