Preventative Measures for House Fires

12/17/2021 (Permalink)

Take preventative measures for home fires and educate others about the importance of fire safety. Regularly maintain smoke alarms.

An average of 358,000 homes have fires each year and more than 3,000 Americans die from fires per year. It is good to practice fire safety but even better to prevent house fires. The top three causes of house fires are cooking, heating equipment, and electrical appliances. Let's talk about preventative measures so you can ensure your family's optimal safety.

1. Education Educate everyone in your household about fire safety. Since it is aforementioned that cooking is a number one cause of house fires, it is ideal to educate those around you on the safety of cooking such as never leaving the stove on or "stop, drop, and roll". You can also teach your family about fire safety at your local fire department.
2. Smoke Alarms Smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month and changing the batteries yearly. It's also ideal to replace the alarms themselves every ten years. There are smart detectors that connect to Wi-Fi and let you know when the alarm goes off or when it's time to change batteries. 
3. Keep flammable items in safe place You should keep flammable items contained in proper storage and stored away in an ideal temperature. Keep rubbing alcohol stored away from open flames and sparks and keep hairspray and aerosol cans away from heat and flames. Gasoline and paint thinner should not be stored inside your house. Keep cooking oil in a cool and dry place and do not leave on the stovetop while cooking. Keep flour in a safe place and never use it to put out a cooking fire since it is flammable in nature. Also keep nail polish stored in a cool dark place as it is flammable.
4. Pets Keep pets in safe place so they don't damage your electrical appliances or expose stored flammables.
5. Appliances and Wiring Make sure electrical appliances and wiring are in order. Make sure the central heating and air conditioner in your home is cleaned regularly. When burning wood in the fireplace, make sure to only use dried/seasoned wood and make sure it is cleaned regularly and use a screen to ensure embers don't fly out. Keep stove and oven clean and make sure grease is properly disposed of inside. Clean the lint trap of the drying machine regularly.

If you have any fire damage within your home, SERVPRO of Monterey Park can restore and replace anything damaged. We work directly with your insurance company and we understand the process from start to finish.