Fire Prevention & Safety Tips
At RestorePro Reconstruction, we’re constantly confronted with the damage and devastation caused by house fires. According to the Red Cross, December and January are the most common months when house fires occur with 6-7 pm being the peak hour. While we’re committed to all aspects of fire and smoke damage repair, we wanted to highlight some prevention and safety tips to pay attention to during the winter months.
The fact is that a house fire can happen at any minute. Fire can cause extensive damage in just seconds and without warning. Because of that, we wanted to highlight some safety tips that can help prevent a fire, and also highlight some options that can protect your valuables.
Fire Safety Tips For The Holidays:
- During the holidays it’s easy to get carried away with lights and other electrical items. Adding additional strain on outlets with multiple plugs can become dangerous. Practice good habits by using surge protectors.
- For families with real Christmas trees, make sure you keep them properly watered and put all lights on a timer.
- Keeping Christmas trees away from elements that can dry them out at a faster rate is also important. If you’re placing your tree near a heating duct, try to cover it or divert the warmer air away from the tree.
- Staying away from incandescent lights is a MUST. Incandescent lights give off more heat and in most cases require 75% more energy to operate than LED’s. LED lights are a safer and more environmentally sound option for interior and exterior decorative lights.
Standard Fire Prevention & Action Tips:
- Smoke Detectors: Smoke detectors should be installed on every level, in your kitchen, and inside every bedroom in your home.
- Fire Extinguishers: The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) recommends that you install a 2-A:10-B:C rated extinguisher on every level of your home. Furthermore, you should plan on having your extinguishers no more than 40 feet apart.
- Fire Escape Plan: Most people think that a fire escape plan is only necessary when you have small children. That couldn’t be further from the truth. House fires induce panic, and according to the Red Cross – you may only have two minutes to act.
- Practice Good Electrical Habits: When you think of a fire in your home, the cause tends to be a major event – grease fire, lightning, a candle left unattended. Fires can start from something as small as a cell phone charger. When you or your family are not using device charging stations – unplug them.
- Protect Your Valuables: When it comes to personal items and valuables, you can purchase a fireproof safe or cabinet. Yes, passports and birth certificates are replaceable, but they take time and more of your effort. Keeping these items in a fireproof cabinet or safe is a great way to keep them safe.
Fire damage is a devastating thing to think about. Practicing good habits and having a plan in place for you and your family can dramatically reduce your risks. For businesses, we also provide Ready Action Plans and Priority Service Agreements to help reduce your risk by helping your business become more proactive in planning.
Fire damage is a devastating thing to think about. By practicing good habits and having a plan in place for you and your family will dramatically reduce your risks. For businesses, we also provide Ready Action Plans and Priority Service Agreements to help reduce your risk by helping your business become more proactive in planning.
