How To Prevent Fires: Fire Prevention Week Tips

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

Fire Prevention Week is the perfect time to put in practices that will help you avoid fire damage or the need for fire damage restoration.

It’s Fire Prevention Week! SERVPRO wants to help you prevent fires from happening in the first place with some quick tips. 

• Test your smoke alarms regularly. Most of the time this can be done by simply pressing the test button on the alarm. The volume at which it beats will help you determine whether or not you need to change the batteries; if the beep is weak and quiet, you should change it immediately. Neglecting to change the batteries of smoke alarms can cause tragedies. 
• Inspect all your heating sources & keep them clean. Heating sources that are unclean or not functioning correctly can trigger a fire as well. Air filters should be cleaned regularly and space heaters need to be positioned in danger-free zones. Food and crumbs must be kept away form burners, as well as dish towels, cookbooks, curtains, and oven mitts. 
• Don't leave your kitchen while cooking. A fire can start in a matter of seconds, so leaving something cooking on the stove or baking in the oven is not a good idea. If you must leave, either turn the stove or oven off or find someone who can watch your masterpiece in the meantime. In addition to this, do not store items inside the oven. They may become forgotten and cause a fire when started again. 
• Aside from cooking, it is important to maintain your dryer by cleaning out the lint trap every load and getting it checked yearly. Another place to check for lint and miscellaneous items is behind the dryer. Items can collect and heat up behind there and become a potential threat. 
• Make sure all the cords in your home are not frayed or chewed so as to not start an electrical fire. Make sure they are placed in areas where they are less likely to overheat, and avoid putting the cord underneath rugs or where the cord is snug between items. 
• Be safe with flammable items. Make sure you blow out your candles before leaving the house or going to bed, and only light them on hard, steady surfaces raised from the floor where they are less likely to be knocked over. Fireplaces are another key to keep a close watch on. The sparks that fly could start a fire, so never leave the room unattended in which the fireplace is lit. 
• Always have fire extinguishers close by in case of emergencies.