In the Situation of a Fire – Plan Ahead and Prepare
As far as cataclysmic emergencies go there are few things as stunning as a fire that damages your home and belongings. A fire in your house is a distressing and an emotionally exhausting event, whether it damages everything or not. However, there are certain precautions you can implement to lessen the odds of a fire from occurring in your home. The fire damage repair team from Paul Davis understands the severe condition of house fires and that’s why it’s important to know how to prepare your home and what to do when a fire occurs.
Preparation for Fire – Property Recovery & Emergency Plans
Safety has to be the first concern when getting ready for a house fire, and smoke alarms and fire extinguishers need to be located throughout the house. Smoke alarms are fundamental because a fire can come out of nowhere and you need to take action as fast as possible. Another thing to think about with smoke alarms is buying ones that can detect smoke caused from electrical fires. Finally, any kids residing in the house need to be instructed on how a smoke alarm sounds when it‘s triggered and what to do when it occurs.
Come up with fire escape routes and ensure everyone is attentive of them. It’s imperative to have two exits out of all rooms in the home. You’ll also need to have a planned meeting spot outside of the home so that you‘re sure everyone makes it out securely.
Another thing you need to do is secure your important things such as passports, photographs and birth certificates. You can make digital replicas and place them into a cloud drive for safe keeping, and you can buy a strong box to keep the real copies secure as well. Finally, make a record of all your personal belongings for insurance purposes in case they’re burned up by the flames.
Things to Keep in Mind to Decrease House Fire Dangers
Even though some fires aren’t preventable, there are a few things you can do to minimize the possibilities of a fire from happening in your home:
- Smoking: Inside smoking makes your home exposed to house fires, so the best method to prevent a disaster is to smoke outside. If you do smoke inside, have the proper ashtrays to inhibit a cigarette or cigar from rolling onto the ground. But if someone in the house is using oxygen, do not smoke inside because oxygen is extremely combustible.
- Children: Kids are inquisitive and fire is fascinating to them, so instruct your kids that fire is not something to play with. In addition, keep your matches and lighters in an area that’s out of reach and out of sight.
- Fireplaces: Obtaining a legitimate screen for your fireplace is necessary for the safety of your home and everyone in it. Make sure it is stable enough to stop rolling logs and flares. You also should clean and maintain your fireplace regularly to remove the highly flammable creosote that builds up.
- Portable Heaters: It’s critical to relocate any combustible items at least three feet away from a portable heater. You’ll also need your portable heater to have a control mechanism too and other safety features such as shutting off if it falls over.
- Appliances and Electrical: Make sure to do a routine check on your appliances and ensure the plugs and cords are in working condition. Also, when your light switches are hot to the touch, then it’s time to switch them out.
- Cooking: It’s crucial to be aware in the kitchen and to not ignore food being cooked unattended. Without exception have someone there to watch what’s going on.
Call the Experienced Fire Damage Restoration Professionals at Paul Davis
House fires can occur, whether it’s something out of your power or an accident, Paul Davis is here to lend a helping hand. Our fire damage restoration services can re-mediate your home back to a habitable condition again. Reach out to us at 888-473-7669 and a franchise in your location will be there for you.