How Should You Prepare & Plan for a Fire on Your Property? - Fire Damage Restoration

As far as cataclysmic disasters go there are few things as stunning as a fire that damages your house and possessions. A fire in your residence is a distressing and an intensely exhausting situation, whether it destroys everything or not. But there are certain precautions you can take to decrease the odds of a fire from happening in your residence. The fire damage repair team at Paul Davis understands the serious condition of house fires and that's why it's essential to know how to plan and prepare your residence and what to do when a fire happens.

Have Fire Escape Plan at All Times in Place

All house fires aren't preventable and you can only do so much. That's why it's essential to have safety measures ready. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are necessary, and always check that you have the proper amount to suit your property. But you should think about installing smoke alarms that can identify smoke from electrical fires, because faulty wiring is one of the main causes of house fires. When there are children in the house, you'll want to train them on how the smoke alarm sounds and what to do when one goes off. Create emergency plans for fire routes and make sure everybody is aware of them. Always have two exits out of every room in the residence. You'll also need to have a planned meeting location outside of the residence so that you know everybody gets out safely. Taking inventory of your personal property is a great idea for insurance purposes in case all your property is damaged by the flames. Additionally, you'll want to store valuable items like birth certificates and passports in a fire safe box, and you can make digital copies and upload them to a cloud drive for back ups.

To Lessen the Hazards of House Fires Implement These Precautions

While some fires aren't preventable, there are a few things you can do to decrease the prospect of a fire from developing in your residence:

  • Portable Heaters: It is imperative to relocate any combustible or flammable items at least three feet away from a space heater. You'll also need your space heater to have a control mechanism too and other safety features such as turning off when the heater falls over.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Check your light switches to see if they need to be replaced. When they're hot to the touch, that's a clue that they're faulty. Also, check your electrical appliances for frayed cords and damaged plugs.
  • Children: Children are curious and fire is fascinating to them, so instruct your children that fire isn't a toy. Additionally, keep your matches and lighters in an area that is out of reach and out of sight.
  • Cooking: It's critical to be aware in the kitchen and to not leave cooking food unattended. Always have somebody there to monitor what's going on.
  • Smoking: Indoor smoking makes your residence vulnerable to house fires, so the finest way to avoid a calamity is to smoke outside. When you do smoke inside, make sure you have proper ashtrays to inhibit a cigarette or cigar from falling onto the ground. Nevertheless, if somebody in the house is on oxygen, do not smoke inside because oxygen is extremely combustible.
  • Fireplaces: Creosote is extremely combustible and it develops in your fireplace and chimney after it's been in use, so make sure to get your fireplace cleaned consistently. Obtaining a large, sturdy screen is also crucial to avoid sparks from flying into the room and rolling logs.

Contact the Fire Damage Restoration Technicians at Paul Davis

When you experience a house fire, don't wait to reach out to Paul Davis. Our expert team has the skills you need with fire damage repair services and we can have your residence back to a livable condition. Get in touch with us at 888-473-7669 and a franchise near your area will be available to help.