Fire Damage Restoration Expert Advice – Planning for a House Fire

As far as detrimental disasters go there are few things as devastating as a fire that damages your house and belongings. A fire in your house is a distressing and an emotionally draining situation, whether it consumes everything or not. Nevertheless, there are certain precautions you can implement to lessen the chances of a fire from occurring in your residence. The fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis understands the severe condition of home fires and that’s why it’s essential to know how to plan and prepare your house and what to do when a fire happens.

Get Your Residence Ready for a Fire & Always Have an Emergency Strategy

Safety has to be the number one priority when getting ready for a home fire, and fire extinguishers and smoke alarms should be placed throughout the property. Smoke alarms are crucial because a fire could come out of the blue and you need to do something as quickly as possible. Another thing to think about with smoke alarms is obtaining ones that can identify smoke produced from electrical fires. Finally, any kids living in the home need to be taught about what a smoke alarm sounds like when it goes off and what to do when it happens.

Then get your fire escape routes in place. Everyone in the property should know two ways to escape from every room and where to assemble outside when a fire happens. Additionally, ensure that everyone knows how to call 911 in the case of an emergency.

It’s also an excellent idea to create digital copies of worthy documents like birth certificates, and you should consider a fire safety box to keep them in. Make a list of your personal possessions as well in the event that they are engulfed in flames. Either prepare a list on paper or snap some pictures or videos to record your things.

What to Think about to Minimize House Fire Hazards

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

  • Fireplaces: It’s necessary to routinely clean and examine your fireplace and chimney for damages and creosote. Get a screen for your fireplace that is strong and large enough to stop rolling logs and catch sparks.
  • Portable Heaters: Never leave a portable heater neglected, and keep flammable items three feet away from it. It’s also imperative for your heater to contain the proper features for safety. For instance, the heater shuts off when it falls over.
  • Smoking: Indoor smoking makes your residence susceptible to home fires, so the best approach to avoid a calamity is to smoke outside. If you do smoke inside, make sure you have suitable ashtrays to restrain a cigarette or cigar from falling onto the floor. But if somebody in the home is on oxygen, do not smoke inside since oxygen is highly combustible.
  • Children: Keep any matches or lighters in a place that is out of sight and out of reach from children to prevent their curiosity from lighting a fire. Educate your children that fire is not a toy as well.
  • Cooking: Stay in the kitchen at all times while you’re cooking and never leave it alone. If you need to step out of the kitchen, get somebody to watch over the food until you return.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Frayed cords and damaged plugs could easily produce a home fire, so be sure to examine your appliances routinely for any issues. In addition, check up on your light switches because if they’re hot, they need to be changed.

Call the Experienced Fire Damage Restoration Technicians from Paul Davis

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