Fire Damage Restoration Expert Guide – Planning for a Home Fire

The fire damage repair professionals from Paul Davis understand how serious house fires are. Not only can house fires destroy your residence and personal belongings, but they are emotionally jarring and make you feel unsafe. Fires can happen in a matter of minutes and can be caused by a number of things, so a lot of the time they’re out of your control like natural disasters or your neighbor’s house being on fire. But there are a few steps you can implement to lessen the risk of a house fire in your home.

Prepare Your Home for a Fire & Always Have a Fire Escape Strategy

Safety should be the number one priority when preparing for a house fire, and fire extinguishers and smoke alarms need to be located throughout the home. Smoke alarms are fundamental because a fire can come out of the blue and you have to take action as fast as possible. Another thing to consider with smoke alarms is buying ones that can catch smoke caused from electrical fires. Lastly, any children residing in the house have to be educated on how a smoke alarm sounds when it‘s triggered and what to do when it happens.

Come up with emergency plans for fire routes and make sure everyone knows about them. There should always be two exits out of all rooms in the property. You’ll also want to have a designated meeting spot outside of the property so that you‘re sure everyone makes it out safely.

Making a record of your personal possessions is a great idea for insurance purposes just in case all your property is destroyed by the flames. Additionally, you’ll want to preserve important things like passports and birth certificates in a fire safe box, and you can create digital copies and upload them to a cloud drive for back ups.

Things to Think about to Decrease Home Fire Hazards

There are a few aspects to keep in mind so you can lessen the risks and dangers that are typically correlated with house fires:

  • Smoking: Outdoor smoking is the finest method to counter a house fire from occurring. It’s imperative to not smoke indoors if someone in the property is on oxygen because it is highly combustible. If you smoke indoors, don’t smoke while drowsy or in bed and have ashtrays that are deep.
  • Children: Store any lighters or matches in a location that is out of reach and out of sight from children to avoid their inquisitive nature from lighting a fire. Explain to your children that fire is not a toy as well.
  • Fireplaces: Having a legitimate fireplace screen is integral for the safety of your property and everyone in it. Ensure that it’s sturdy enough to stop sparks and logs that roll. You also need to clean your fireplace consistently to clear away the immensely flammable creosote that builds up.
  • Portable Heaters: Not under any condition should you allow a portable heater neglected, and keep flammable objects three feet away from it. It’s also necessary for your space heater to contain the correct safety features. For example, the heater shuts off when it tips over.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Shredded cords and damaged plugs could easily produce a house fire, so be sure to examine your appliances routinely for any problems. In addition, check up on the switches for your lights because if they’re hot, they have to be changed.
  • Cooking: The kitchen is one of the more typical spots for a fire to develop. It’s important to be attentive to what’s in the oven or on the stove, and if you have to step out, have someone watch over it until you come back.

Reach Out to the Fire Damage Repair Technicians from Paul Davis

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