5 important ways to protect your home from a fire

Fires can happen anywhere, at any time, and they can be devastating no matter where they occur. But when it comes to your home, it can be even more devastating if a fire breaks out. You want to be able to protect your family and safeguard everything that’s in your home. The National Fire Protection Association reports an average of 350,800 home fires happen each year, causing billions of dollars in damage and thousands of deaths. These staggering numbers illustrate why it’s so important to protect your home and family from a fire.

By following the following recommendations, you can ensure your home is well protected and that you will be prepared in case one does occur. Here’s what you should know.

The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) recommendation is that a home should have smoke alarms installed on every level of the home, including a basement if you have one. In addition, you should install additional alarms both inside and outside of each bedroom. In other words, a three-bedroom, two-story home should have a minimum of seven smoke alarms to ensure safety.

You also need to create a habit of testing your smoke alarms monthly and replacing the batteries once every year. If your home is smart-wired, you may want to consider a device like Google Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector, which sends alerts to your phone about where a fire may be in your home.

The NFPA recommends protecting your home with fire extinguishers in locations where fires are more prone to break out, including your main living area and the garage. In addition, you should have supplemental fire extinguishers where electrical fires are more likely to start, such as in the kitchen. And be sure to keep an extinguisher on each floor of your home. In addition, choose the right type of fire extinguisher for each area: a Class A fire extinguisher is suitable for fires involving paper, wood, and cloth; a Class B fire extinguisher is suitable for fires involving flammable liquids, such as gasoline and oil.

The NFPA also suggests remembering the mnemonic word PASS to remember how to operate a fire extinguisher. Here’s what to remember:

·   Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you; release the locking mechanism.

·   Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.

·   Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly, and be aware that it’s normal for the fire to flare up slightly when the extinguisher’s agent hits it.

·   Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Developing a comprehensive fire escape plan for your home is crucial for ensuring the safety of all household members in the event of a fire. The plan should include identifying multiple escape routes from each room, designating a meeting place outside the home, and assigning specific roles and responsibilities to each family member.

Make it a priority to regularly practice the plan with the entire family. Discuss it with everyone in your household to ensure everyone knows what to do and where to go in case of a fire. Make sure everyone in your home knows about the mnemonic word PASS in case you need to use a fire extinguisher and make sure they are easily accessible. By practicing this plan and knowing how to get outside quickly it can significantly increase the chances of everyone in your home escaping safely in the event of a fire.

The NFPA reports that unattended cooking is one of the leading causes of fires in the home, largely caused by flammable cooking materials setting fire. That’s why taking extra precautions is so important when doing this everyday activity. First, if you’re using a stove or oven, keep an eye on it at all times. Don’t start cooking if you’re tired and are at risk of falling asleep, which tends to be one of the most common issues with cooking fires.

Keep flammable objects such as towels, oven mitts, and wooden utensils away from heat sources. When frying food, use a deep fryer or a high-pitched pan to prevent grease from splattering and igniting. Also, always turn off the stove or oven when you are finished cooking and let it cool down before touching it. Don’t forget to keep a kitchen-specific fire extinguisher nearby. You can significantly reduce the risk of a kitchen fire by following simple safety measures.

Overloading electrical outlets is a common household problem that can lead to several hazards, including electrical fires. When too many appliances or devices are plugged into a single outlet, it can exceed the outlet’s capacity and cause the wiring to overheat. This can damage the outlet, the appliances, and the home’s electrical system. In addition, overloading an outlet can increase the risk of electrical shock or electrocution.

To avoid these dangers, it’s important to be mindful of the electrical load on each outlet and to use surge protectors or power strips with built-in circuit breakers. It’s also a good idea to unplug appliances and devices when they’re not in use, as this will reduce the load on the electrical system and help prevent overloading. You can also take advantage of smart plugs in your home. Smart plugs allow you to control your plugs from your phone, allowing you to turn off outlets when they aren’t being used or when you’re away.

Be sure to talk to your kids about fire safety, and if your children are young, child proof your home for an added level of protection. It’s also important to regularly inspect your appliances, wiring, and outlets. These simple basics can help prevent a major fire that can cause damage to your home and prevent any major losses that you may never recover from.

The Jim Allen Group provides access to information on this blog/website as a public service for educational purposes only. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all of the information made available is current, accurate, and complete…[read more]