4 Safety Tips on How to Prevent a House Fire

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

Do you know how to prevent a house fire? Fire can create destruction and chaos. If a family is lucky enough to escape a fire in their home, often times they do not want to return after the stress they went through during the fire. Consider following the tips below in order to prevent this tragedy from happening to you.

Fire Prevention Safety Tip #1

The best safety tips are the ones that ensure your and your family’s safety. In order to keep your family safe, it is important to check the smoke detectors in your home regularly. If your home does not have a smoke detector–or not enough smoke detectors–they can be purchased online or at a local home improvement store.

The National Fire Protection Association provides the following safety guidelines for smoke alarms:

• Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years.
• Smoke alarms should be installed on each level of the home.
• Smoke alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area, the kitchen, and the hallways connecting the sleeping areas.
• Smoke alarms should be equipped with an alarm system that will sound when the power is out.
• Smoke alarms should be tested monthly.
• Smoke alarms should be regularly cleaned to avoid the build-up of dust.
• Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years.

In order to protect your home and your family, it is important to make sure your smoke detectors are in working order. Make sure that your smoke detectors are always plugged in or have batteries installed and test them monthly to ensure they are working properly.

Fire Prevention Safety Tip #2

Make sure your home is equipped with fire extinguishers. Having a working fire extinguisher in your home could be the difference between a small kitchen fire and having to rebuild an entire home. Don’t forget to make sure your fire extinguishers are also not expired. The average fire extinguisher is used every ten years.

Fire extinguishers are designed to put out fires. Typically, they are filled with gas that is stored under pressure and is released as a fine mist. When the gas is sprayed, it creates a barrier between the fire and the items it is burning. The fire may go out on its own, or it will need to be sprayed again. Making sure your home has fire extinguishers or the proper sprinkler system in place is very important in keeping your family safe.

Fire Prevention Safety Tip #3

Children should be taught proper fire prevention techniques. The most effective way to teach your children about fire hazards is to have a discussion with them about the different fire hazards that their home could be vulnerable to and the different ways to avoid fire hazards.

Most children are taught in school that fire is not good and that it can be harmful to them and their surroundings. It is important to reinforce these lessons at home and to make sure they know how to call for help and where safety equipment is in your home.

Fire Prevention Safety Tip #4

Making sure that your fire alarm system is ready at all times is important in order to keep your family safe. If your house is outfitted with an alarm system before a fire starts, it could protect you and your loved ones from harmful smoke and fire.

Many newly-built housing developments have the houses in each neighborhood close together, heightening the chance for flames to jump from one house to the next. This chance of fire spreading is also high in apartment buildings and condos.

These are just a few fire safety tips that you should remember. At SERVPRO of Highland Village, we want to make sure you implement proper fire safety precautions to keep your family and home safe. In the event that you should ever need emergency fire damage restoration, we are available 24/7.