FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

For many of us, a home is irreplaceable. Your home is where you make some of your most precious memories. It’s a place that’s special to you and your family, and it’s the place that you feel safe and well. A fire can total home and cause enormous damage. That damage will have to be repaired. While the emotional damage will take time to heal, SERVPRO of Grand Junction has the human resources and the expertise to restore your home and reverse the fire damage.

Although SERVPRO of Grand Junction is more than capable of taking care of any damages from a fire, it’s always best to prevent house fires in the first place. Here are some practical tips to help you prevent a house fire.

Install Smoke Detectors

You should have working smoke detectors installed on every level of your home to help warn you when a fire has started. If something started as a small fire, hearing the alarm from a smoke detector can give you a chance to put the fire out before it grows larger and more dangerous. To prevent false alarms, keep your detectors clean and free of cobwebs and dust. If the fire is already quite large, your focus should be on safely getting yourself and any pets or loved ones out of the house.

It's good practice to charge the batteries during daylight saving time and test smoke detectors monthly to ensure they’re working properly. You should also have an escape plan that you and your loved ones can follow and easily remember should there be a fire.

Install Fire Extinguishers

Install your fire extinguishers high on the wall, so they’re easily accessible and away from children. It would be best to learn how to use your fire extinguishers and how they operate since you won’t have time to use them when a fire breaks out. Call your local fire department to see if they offer any training for homeowners to use a fire extinguisher.

Check Your Wiring

If you live in an older home, the aging wiring in your electrical system should be thoroughly checked by a trained electrician.

If you can’t afford to have the wiring completely overhauled, having a trained electrician check the wiring routinely should eliminate any major problems down the road. More importantly, you won’t be caught off guard by a massive electrical fire. Also, check that you’re not using more electricity than your circuits can handle.

Avoid Candles

To reduce the risk of fire, keep candles a safe distance of 12 inches or more from anything that can burn and never leave an open flame unattended or near children. Extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to sleep. If you love the warm glow candles give your home, use battery-operated flameless candles, which are much safer.

Keep an eye on your cooking.

Unattended cooking equipment is a leading cause of home fires. Using grills on wooden or combustible decks is also a contributor.

When cooking, you should always:

• Keep cooking appliances clear of combustible materials such as rags, towels, and packaging materials.
• Keep children away from all cooking areas.

Plan your Escape

A home fire escape plan is essential because when a fire breaks out, every second counts. Before the worst happens, make sure everyone in your family knows how to get out and that there’s nothing to stop that from happening. Identify all possible escape routes from your home and establish a meeting place outside, a safe distance from your house, with your family. Conduct your own fire drills, both during the day and at night, so you’re never caught off guard in an emergency.

Here at SERVPRO Grand Junction, we care about the communities we serve. Therefore, we cooked up these helpful tips. While we’d love to have your business, we sincerely hope that a fire will never damage your home.

Contact SERVPRO of Grand Junction for Fire Damage Restoration and Repairs; we can help. Call us today at 970-949-3235. We are a 24/7 emergency response.