Fire Preparation Tips for Homeowners

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

Follow these steps and be ready to avoid Fire Damage in your Property.

No homeowner in West Valley City, UT, wants to face the danger and damage of a house fire. Keeping your family safe during such an event should be a top priority. With a few fire preparation strategies, you can make sure that everyone knows what they need to do if the unthinkable happens.

Tips for Home Fire Prevention and Response

Of course, the best option is to prevent a fire from occurring in the first place. There are several things you can do to make a fire in your home less likely. Even if you employ all these prevention strategies, though, the whole family still needs to understand some fire safety basics.

Maintain Your Home and Habits

Safety starts by preventing potential hazards. Fire restoration experts recommend several tasks that you should turn into regular habits if you own a home:

• Store flammable liquids away from heat sources.
• Have your wiring inspected by an electrician once a year.
• Take preventative measures to keep pests that chew through cords or wires out of your home.
• Use space heaters and candles responsibly.
• Restrict smoking to outside areas and make sure that used cigarettes are disposed of properly.

Arm Your Home for Alert and Response

Smoke detectors are crucial for alerting your family when a fire begins. One detector won't cut it, though. The number you need depends on the size and layout of your home. Place one in a central location on every level.

You also need a detector for every sleeping area. Test them at least once a month to ensure they're working and to remind everyone what they sound like when they go into alarm. Replace the batteries at least once a year.

It's also a good fire preparation practice to have fire extinguishers stashed in various areas of your home. At a minimum, you should have one near the kitchen and others in easily accessible common areas on every floor. Everyone in the family should know not only how to use them but also when to stop using them and call 911.

Create an Emergency Fire Escape Plan

Despite all your best efforts, you may experience a home fire at some point in your life. Having a clear emergency plan that involves everyone in the family is your best chance of keeping them safe. Start by walking through your home. Find two ways to escape from every room. Plot escape routes and make sure children know what they are supposed to do.

Practice your fire escape plan at least twice a year. This gives all the people in your home a chance to actually go through the steps they need to take in an emergency. Agree on a meeting place that is away from the house and set up a communication plan just in case you get separated. The more you prepare, the easier it will be to remember it if necessary.

Most people will never have to endure a house fire. Every homeowner, however, needs to have a fire preparation plan just in case his or her prevention strategies fail.