What to Do to Prepare for a Home Fire? – Fire Damage Restoration

As far as catastrophic emergencies go there are few things as overwhelming as a fire that ruins your property and possessions. A fire in your house is a harrowing and an emotionally draining situation, whether it damages everything or not. However, there are specific measures you can take to lessen the chances of a fire from happening in your home. The fire damage restoration team from Paul Davis understands the severe situation of home fires and that’s why it’s essential to know how to prepare your residence and what to do when a fire happens.

Design and Implement a Fire Escape Strategy for Your House

Safety should be the number one priority when getting ready for a home fire, and fire extinguishers and smoke alarms need to be located throughout the property. Smoke alarms are fundamental because a fire could spring out of the blue and you have to do something as quickly as possible. Something else to think about with smoke alarms is purchasing ones that can catch smoke produced by electrical fires. Lastly, any kids residing in the home have to be taught about what a smoke alarm sounds like when it goes off and what to do when it happens.

Implement plans for emergency fire routes and ensure everyone knows about them. There should always be two exits out of all rooms in the house. You’ll also need to have a planned meeting area outside of the house so that you‘re sure everyone gets out securely.

Making a record of your personal belongings is an excellent idea for insurance reasons in case all your stuff is demolished by the flames. You’ll also want to preserve valuable documents such as birth certificates and passports in a strong box, and you can create digital replicas and upload them to a cloud drive for added measure.

To Minimize the Chances of a Fire in Your Residence Practice These Precautions

Though some fires are out of your control, there are some steps you need to implement to prevent a home fire:

  • Smoking: Indoor smoking makes your house susceptible to home fires, so the best way to prevent a calamity is to smoke outdoors. If you do smoke indoors, have the proper ashtrays to restrain a cigar or cigarette from falling onto the floor. But if someone in the house is using oxygen, do not smoke indoors as oxygen is highly combustible.
  • Children: Store any matches or lighters in an area that is out of sight and out of reach from children to avoid their inquisitive nature from lighting a fire. Explain to your children that fire is not a toy as well.
  • Fireplaces: Having a legitimate fireplace screen is necessary for the safety of your house and everyone in it. Ensure that it is stable enough to catch rolling logs and sparks. Also, you should clean your fireplace and chimney routinely to remove the extremely flammable creosote that develops.
  • Portable Heaters: It is critical to place any combustible objects at least three feet from a portable heater. You’ll also need your portable heater to have a control mechanism too and other safety features such as turning off when the heater falls over.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Frayed cords and damaged plugs could easily start a home fire, so make sure to check your appliances regularly for any issues. In addition, keep an eye on your light switches because if they’re hot, they have to be replaced.
  • Cooking: The kitchen is one of the most typical places for a fire to happen. It’s fundamental to be attentive to what’s on the stove or in the oven, and when you need to step out, have someone watch over it until you return.

Call the Fire Damage Restoration Technicians at Paul Davis

Immediately get in touch with the expert fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis if your house has had a fire. Our professional team can restore any fire damage and have your house back in a livable condition. For a Paul Davis franchise near you, give us a call at 888-473-7669.