In the Case of a Fire – Prepare and Plan Ahead

The fire damage repair experts from Paul Davis understand how damaging home fires can be. Not only can home fires ruin your property and personal possessions, but they are emotionally unsettling and make you feel insecure. Fires can occur without a moment’s notice and can be caused by a number of variables, so a lot of the time they’re out of your control such as your neighbor’s house being on fire or natural disasters. Yet, there are a few steps you can take to lessen the risk of a home fire in your residence.

The Importance of Fire Escape Strategies

One of the more vital things you can do to prepare for a home fire is to have safety rules ready. Since not all fires are preventable, being safe is a necessity. Every residence needs the proper amount of fire extinguishers and smoke alarms placed around the property. Additionally, you should consider buying smoke alarms that identify smoke that is caused by electrical fires since damaged wiring is one of the main causes of home fires. Children in the home should be taught what the smoke alarm sounds like when it goes off and what to do when this happens.

Implement fire escape routes and make sure everyone knows about them. It’s imperative to have two exits out of all rooms in the house. Also, you’ll want to have a designated meeting location outside of the house so that you know everyone gets out securely.

Taking inventory of your personal belongings is an excellent idea for insurance purposes just in case all your stuff is destroyed by the flames. Additionally, you’ll want to keep valuable documents such as birth certificates and passports in a strong box, and you can make digital copies and upload them to a cloud drive for back ups.

What to Think about to Lessen House Fire Dangers

Even though some fires aren’t preventable, there are a few things you can do to decrease the prospect of a fire from happening in your residence:

  • Fireplaces: Creosote is very combustible and it develops in your fireplace after it’s been in use, so make sure to get your fireplace cleaned and maintained regularly. Getting a large, durable screen is also imperative to prevent sparks from flying into the room and log rollovers.
  • Portable Heaters: Not under any circumstance should you allow a space heater alone, and keep flammable objects three feet away from it. It’s also imperative for your portable heater to have the correct safety features. For instance, it turning off when it tips over.
  • Smoking: Cigars and cigarettes are serious fire threats, and smoking outside is the perfect method to prevent a home fire. When you smoke indoors, check that you have deep ashtrays and that under any situation you don’t smoke in bed or while you’re lethargic. Additionally, never smoke indoors if someone in the home is on oxygen as this is very explosive.
  • Children: Children are curious and fire is appealing for them, so teach your children that fire isn’t something to play with. In addition, keep your lighters and matches in an area that’s out of reach and out of sight.
  • Cooking: Always remain in the kitchen during the time you’re cooking and never leave it unattended. When you have to leave the kitchen, get someone to watch over the food until you return.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Do a habitual examination on your electrical appliances and make sure the cords and plugs are in working condition. Also, when your light switches are hot to the touch, then it’s time to switch them out.

Contact the Experienced Fire Damage Repair Technicians from Paul Davis

When you experience a home fire, don’t wait to contact Paul Davis. Our expert team has the experience you need with fire damage repair services and we‘ll have your residence back to a habitable condition. Get in touch with Paul Davis at 888-473-7669 and a local franchise near your location will be ready to help out.