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

As far as detrimental disasters go there aren’t many situations as devastating as a fire that damages your home and personal possessions. A fire in your residence is a distressing and an emotionally draining event, whether it destroys everything or not. Yet, there are certain precautions you can take to lessen the chances of a fire from occurring in your house. The fire damage repair team at Paul Davis understands the severe situation of home fires and that’s why it’s fundamental to know how to prepare your house and what to do when a fire occurs.

The Emphasis of Fire Escape Plans

All home fires aren’t avoidable and you can only do so much. That is why the most fundamental thing you can do is have safety procedures ready. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are necessary, and always check that you have the proper amount to suit your home. Yet, you should consider using smoke alarms that can catch smoke from electrical fires, because defective wiring can be a cause of home fires. If there are kids in the house, you’ll want to train them on what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when one goes off.

Next, have your emergency program ready. Everyone in the home should know two ways to escape from each room and where to relocate outside when a fire occurs. Also, ensure that all members of the household know how to call 911 in the situation of a house fire.

Something else you should do is protect your important things like passports, photographs and birth certificates. You can create digital copies and store them into cloud storage for safe keeping, and you can purchase a strong box to keep the hard copies safe too. Finally, take inventory of all your personal possessions for insurance reasons in the event they’re burned up by the flames.

To Decrease the Risks of a Fire in Your Home Practice These Precautions

Although some fires are uncontrollable, here are some safety measures you should execute to avoid a home fire:

  • Fireplaces: It’s imperative to clean regularly and examine your fireplace and chimney for creosote and other damage. Use a fireplace screen that is durable and large enough to block rolling logs and catch sparks.
  • Portable Heaters: It’s vital to keep any combustible or flammable items at least three feet away from a portable heater. You’ll also want your heater to have a control mechanism too and other features for safety such as shutting off when it falls over.
  • Smoking: Outdoor smoking is the best way to avert a home fire from occurring. Don’t smoke inside if someone in the residence is on oxygen because it is very combustible. If you smoke indoors, don’t smoke in bed and while lethargic and have ashtrays with tall walls.
  • Children: Teach your kids that fire is not a toy, and be sure to store lighters and matches in an area that is out of reach and out of sight.
  • Cooking: Always remain in the area while food is in the oven or on the stove and don’t leave it alone. If you have to step out of the area, get someone to keep an eye on the food until you return.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Perform a habitual examination on your appliances and make sure the cords and plugs are in good condition. Also, when your light switches are hot to the touch, then you need to switch them out.

If You Need Fire Damage Repair Services – Reach Out to Paul Davis for High-Quality Assistance Today

If you experience a home fire, don’t wait to call Paul Davis. Our expert team has the experience you need with fire damage repair services and we can have your house back to a livable condition. Contact us at 888-473-7669 and a franchise near you will be ready to help out.