Heating equipment such as fireplaces and heaters are implicated in one out of six home fires. Ensure that you keep children See this and any flammable items at least three feet away from heating equipment. Put out fires and turn off heating appliances when you leave the room or go to bed. If you have a fireplace, use a fireplace screen, clean your firebox after every fire, and have your chimney maintained once a year.
Clear the Junk
A messy home can have the potential to become a fire hazard. Clutter such as old furniture or cardboard boxes can catch a spark and start a fire. Piles of leaves, woodchips, or coal stored in warm, damp conditions can even spontaneously combust by self-heating. Toss out or give away any items that you do not need. Make sure you store flammable items far away from heat sources and clear debris away from fire escape routes.
Check Your Wiring
Many older homes have less than ideal electrical wiring systems. Issues like deteriorated insulation, lack of ground wires, or aluminum wiring can cause electrical malfunctions that lead to serious house fires. The best way to avoid this is to hire a qualified electrician to thoroughly check and update your property’s wiring. In addition, make sure you inspect your electrical cords and be sure not to overload your electrical outlets.
Test Smoke Alarms
According to FEMA, 51 percent of deaths from residential fires occur at night when people are sleeping. You should install smoke alarms on each level of your home, particularly inside bedrooms and in their adjoining corridors. Smoke alarms can be interlinked to sound in unison so the whole house is alerted in the event of a fire. Test your smoke alarms monthly and replace any low batteries.
Buy Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers can stop a small fire from growing out of control. There should be at least one multipurpose fire extinguisher for each level of your property. However, it is important to know how to use it correctly. Local fire departments often provide basic fire extinguisher training for minimal cost. Be sure to have your fire extinguishers checked and tested by professionals, and replaced if they are too old.
Create a Fire Escape Plan
Despite all your efforts, accidents do happen. A fire escape plan is essential to help you know what to do in case of an emergency. Avoid sleeping in windowless rooms and ensure that every member of your household knows of two possible exits for each room (a window and a door). Keep your escape routes clear and set an outside rendezvous point a distance from the house. Practice your fire escape plan twice a year and at different times of the day and make sure everyone knows how to dial 911.
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