The Importance of Preparing for House Fires – How to Prepare & Plan

When it comes to tough circumstances, there aren’t many events as draining than a fire that sabotages your house and personal possessions. As a fire damage repair company, Paul Davis knows what a serious threat home fires are. Out of the blue, it just takes two minutes before flames are blazing. A fire in your house is a horrible and emotionally exhausting event, even if it damages everything or not. Yet, you can act on individual things to make sure that you are ready for when a fire happens.

Create and Implement a Fire Escape Strategy

Safety should be the first concern when prepping for a home fire, and fire extinguishers and smoke alarms need to be located throughout the house. Smoke alarms are vital since a fire can come out of the blue and you have to take action as quickly as possible. Another thing to consider with smoke alarms is buying ones that can catch smoke produced from electrical fires. Lastly, any children residing in the home have to be taught about what a smoke alarm sounds like when it‘s triggered and what to do when it happens.

Other precautions consist of outlining emergency routes in your house. Design a plan and ensure everyone in the home knows the emergency fire escape routes – there needs to be two exits for every room in the house. It’s also necessary to have a designated meeting spot outside so you know who gets out of the home and who is absent.

It’s also a great idea to make digital copies of valuable documents like birth certificates, and you should think about getting a fire safety box to store them in. Record all of your personal belongings as well in case they are engulfed in flames. You can either make a list on paper or snap some photos or videos to catalog your property.

To Decrease the Dangers of a Fire in Your Residence Take These Measures

There are a few aspects to be aware of so you can decrease the dangers and risks that are correlated with home fires:

  • Portable Heaters: Guarantee your space heater has a control mechanism and a thermostat, and it needs to turn off if the heater falls over on its side.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Make sure to do a routine check on your electrical appliances and ensure the cords and plugs are in good condition. Also, when switches for your lights are hot to the touch, then you need to replace them.
  • Children: Keep any matches or lighters in a place that is out of reach and out of sight from kids to avoid their curiosity from starting a fire. Teach your kids that fire is not something to play with as well.
  • Cooking: It’s important to be aware in the kitchen and to not leave food being cooked unattended. Always have someone there to monitor what’s going on.
  • Smoking: Inside smoking makes your residence vulnerable to home fires, so the finest way to prevent a disaster is to smoke outdoors. When you do smoke indoors, have the suitable ashtrays to prevent a cigarette or cigar from falling onto the floor. Nevertheless, if someone in the house is on oxygen, do not smoke indoors because oxygen is extremely combustible.
  • Fireplaces: Creosote is extremely flammable and it builds up in your fireplace after it’s been in use, so make sure to get your fireplace cleaned and maintained consistently. Obtaining a big, strong screen is also vital to prevent sparks from entering the room and log rollovers.

Contact the Experienced Fire Damage Repair Professionals at Paul Davis

When you have a home fire, don’t hesitate to reach out to Paul Davis. Our expert team has the skills you need with fire damage restoration services and we‘ll have your home back to a livable condition. Reach out to Paul Davis at 888-473-7669 and a franchise near you will be ready to help.