Fire Safety Tips for Your Home

6/5/2020 (Permalink)

Fires can be devastating to homeowners, so it is critical to be as prepared as possible for this worst-case scenario event. We have pulled together a few tips on how to be prepared should a fire start in your home and what you should do. In the event of a house, every minute counts. Mere seconds can determine the severity of the damage that a fire can wreak upon your home. Having a fire emergency plan in place is necessary to keep your home protected during an emergency.

Have and understand your smoke alarms

Make sure that smoke alarms are installed on each level of your home at a minimum. You may also want to consider installing a smoke alarm inside every sleeping area in addition to the one alarm per level. Installing is only the first step! It is critical for smoke alarms to be tested regularly and that their batteries are changed yearly to make sure that they are functioning correctly. For extra protection, consider installing a central carbon monoxide detector to supplement your smoke alarms to protect your home from deadly fumes. This is especially important if you have gas appliances of any kind in your home.

Have and know how to use fire extinguishers

Be sure that there is at least one fire extinguisher in your home that is easy to access in the event of a fire. Most people keep an extinguisher in their kitchen but find a place that makes sense for quick access. The type of fire extinguisher recommended for household use is an ABC fire extinguisher, which can put out three different classes of fires. Here is a quick overview of those three classes: Class A covers trash, paper, and wood fires. Class B is for various liquids and gases. Class C is for fires emanating from electrical sources. It is vital that every person in your household understands how to use your fire extinguisher(s) beforehand so that you do not have to waste time reading the directions during an actual emergency. Remember, time is of the essence during a house fire!

Create and enforce safe practices in your home

Teach your children the dangers of playing with fire and always keep matches as well as lighters in a secure location away from them. Many household fires are caused by not having flammable items safely secured. Create a fire emergency plan with your family to have a predetermined escape route in the event of an emergency that your entire family can remember in case you become separated. During a house fire, safety is of the utmost importance, and having a plan of time will offer calm, organized action instead of panic and chaos, which can save lives.

Know who to call if you experience a fire

Once a fire has been put out, and everyone is safe, know who to call to help you recover from a fire. SERVPRO of East Phoenix has a large team of IICRC-certified professionals who can offer services ranging from debris removal and reconstruction through odor removal and environmental purification. With a 24/7 response to fire emergencies, our dedicated technicians can provide effective fire mitigation solutions to preserve your property and its contents from worsening conditions as we work to restore your home or business. We will help you recover from these challenging times, so reach out to us immediately after the flames are out to help get your home back to normal. Keep our contact information handy: (602) 507-6163.