Home Fire Safety Tips

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), every 24 seconds a fire department is called to a fire. It takes about two minutes for a fire to become life-threatening and only five minutes for your home to be engulfed in flames. Water Mold Fire Restoration, 800-905-0277, wants you to know that most residential fires can be avoided with proper preventative planning..

Fire Danger Facts

• Fire is hot – you are told to drop to the floor and crawl out of a burning room or building. That’s because at floor level temperatures can quickly reach 100 degrees. At eye level it can reach 600 degrees. Breathing in 600 degree air will scorch your lungs.
• Fire is fast – as stated before, small fires become big fires in a matter of minutes.
• Fire is dark – smoke will fill a house quickly, making it almost impossible to see.
• Fire is deadly – breathing the gases caused by burning materials can disorient you and the gases are toxic. The toxic gases cause way more deaths than the flames themselves.

Fire Prevention

The first step to safeguarding your home from a fire is fire prevention. And prevention starts with planning. Everyone residing in your home must be familiar with the plan you create. Then make sure you practice the plan.

Preventing a fire from occurring at all is the best way that you and your family can be safe. You can begin by implementing the following fire prevention measures:

• Keep materials that are flammable away from heat sources. If you use a portable heater, keep it at least 3 feet away from items like blankets, furniture, electronics and other combustible items.
• Repair or replace all frayed and damaged electrical wires and cords as soon as they are discovered. Immediately stop using whatever it is that has damaged wires until the wire can be repaired.
• Never overload extension cords or wall outlets.
• Never leave any smoking materials or flames unattended; cigarettes, candles, fireplaces, etc. Never smoke in bed.
• Regularly inspect any heating source or furnace making sure that they are in good working condition. HVAC systems should be “tuned up” by a professional at least once a year.

Fire Safety Equipment

Having the right safety equipment and the proper supplies is the key to a good fire safety plan. When a fire-related emergency happens, this equipment will serve as your first line of defense.This equipment will improve your ability to act quickly and effectively.

• Install smoke detectors on all floors of your home, in every bedroom, in any main hallways, and near the kitchen.
• Regularly inspect and maintain all the smoke detectors. Water Mold Fire recommends that if they are battery operated, change the batteries every time you change to and from daylight savings time.
• Keep an appropriately classified fire extinguisher handy. Make sure that all family members know how to use the fire extinguisher.
• If you own a 2-story home, purchase an emergency escape ladder, keep it on the second floor and teach everyone in your home how to use it.
• Consider installing an automatic sprinkler system in your home.

Fire Safety Planning

In case of a fire, reaction time is very important. Everyone in your home should know how to react, what to do, and where to go.

• Create a family fire safety plan and designate at least two different escape routes.
• Once a family member escapes from the home, a safe gathering place where everyone should meet should be determined.
• Create a communication plan so that all the members can be reached before, during and after a fire.
• Practice the fire safety plan 1-2 times in a year.
• Have all emergency numbers on hand and teach your kids, when and how to contact the fire department in case of an emergency.

Always be prepared and have an effective fire safety plan in place for your home. Stuff can be replaced, people can't. A little advance planning will help your family remain safe if a home fire occurs. The emergency response fire teams at Water Mold Fire Restoration, 800-905-0277, are ready to help with any fire emergency, from board up to cleanup, our experts can do it all. Call us for a free estimate or email us at help@watermoldfire.net.. We will get you started on the road back to normal as quickly as possible.