How to Prepare for a House Fire? – Fire Damage Repair

The fire damage repair experts at Paul Davis understand how severe house fires can be. Not only can house fires ruin your home and personal possessions, but they are emotionally unsettling and make you feel unsafe. Fires can happen without a moment’s notice and can be produced by a number of things, so a lot of the time they’re out of your control like natural disasters or your neighbor’s house being on fire. Nevertheless, there are a few steps you can take to lessen the dangers of a house fire in your residence.

The Seriousness of Emergency Plans

Safety has to be the number one priority when preparing for a house fire, and fire extinguishers and smoke alarms need to be placed throughout the home. Smoke alarms are crucial since a fire could come out of nowhere and you have to do something as fast as possible. Something else to think about with smoke alarms is buying ones that can recognize smoke caused by electrical fires. Lastly, any children residing in the house have to be taught about what a smoke alarm sounds like when it‘s triggered and what to do when it happens.

Some other safety procedures include planning fire escape routes in your residence. Design a strategy and make sure everyone in the house understands the emergency fire escape routes – there needs to be two exits for each room in the house. Also, it’s necessary to have a planned meeting spot outside so you know who gets out of the house and who is absent.

Making a record of your personal possessions is an excellent idea for insurance purposes just in case all your stuff is damaged by the flames. You’ll also want to preserve valuable items like passports and birth certificates in a fire safe box, and you can create digital copies and upload them to a cloud drive for back ups.

Things to Be Conscious of to Decrease House Fire Hazards

Even though some fires are out of your power, here are some safety measures you need to take to prevent a house fire:

  • Portable Heaters: It is imperative to place any combustible items at least three feet away from a space heater. You’ll also need your heater to have a control mechanism as well as other safety features such as turning off if the heater falls over.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Do a habitual examination on your electrical appliances and make sure the cords and plugs are in working condition. If your light switches are hot to the touch, then you need to switch them out.
  • Children: Children are inquisitive and fire is alluring to them, so instruct your children that fire is not something to play with. Also, keep your matches and lighters in a secure place that is out of reach and out of sight.
  • Cooking: It’s important to be observant in the kitchen and to not ignore cooking food unattended. Always have someone there to watch what’s going on.
  • Smoking: Cigars and cigarettes are serious fire perils, and smoking outside is the perfect way to prevent a house fire. When you smoke inside, make sure you have ashtrays with deep walls and that you never smoke in bed or while you’re drowsy. Also, never smoke inside if someone in the house is using oxygen since this is extremely combustible.
  • Fireplaces: It’s essential to routinely clean and inspect your fireplace for damages and creosote. Use a fireplace screen that is durable and big enough to prevent logs from rolling and catch flying sparks.

Reach Out to the Fire Damage Repair Experts at Paul Davis

Immediately call the professional fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis if your residence has had a fire. Our skillful team can re-mediate any fire damage and get your house back in a livable condition. For a Paul Davis franchise near you, contact us at 888-473-7669.