Fire Safety Tips
Ensure the safety of you, your family, and your neighbors by following these fire safety tips.
In the event of a fire on or near your property, immediately call 911. For 24/7 fire damage restoration and water damage restoration services to clean up fire damage and water damage debris and restore your property, contact Express Water Damage Restoration at 817-203-2944.
Escape Planning and Fire Drills
When a fire alarm sounds, you typically have as little as 2 minutes to escape a burning structure. It is crucial to have a fire escape plan in place and regularly practice it with your family. Planning ahead and knowing fire escape routes can save lives. Discuss fire safety and prevention with your family members and conduct fire drills at least a couple of times a year.
According to the NFPA, “Always choose the safest escape route, preferably the one with the least amount of smoke and heat. However, be prepared to escape under toxic smoke if necessary. During your fire drill, everyone in the family should practice getting low and crawling under the smoke towards the exit.” Additionally, remove any obstructions like furniture that may block windows and doors.
- Practice various scenarios of exiting the house through doors and windows.
- Instruct family members to gather outside the house at a predetermined meeting place.
- Teach everyone that in the event of an actual fire, it is crucial to exit and stay outside the house. Do not go back inside to retrieve cell phones, pets, or other family members.
- Call 911 using a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone.
Children and Fire Safety
Parents must educate children about fire safety. Children should never play with matches, lighters, or any other sources of flame. They should be supervised around stoves, ovens, fireplaces, burning candles, and portable heating units. Additionally, enforce a three-foot safety area around hot kitchen appliances and fireplaces. Parents and adults should emphasize the importance of fire prevention and fire safety at home. Teach children about the fire escape plan, routes, and conduct fire drills at least twice a year.
Smoke Alarms
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms play a crucial role in preventing fire-related deaths. To ensure the safety of your family and property, check your fire alarms monthly to ensure the batteries are working, and annually check that the smoke alarms themselves are functioning properly.
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Tips for Preventing House Fires
- Preventing Kitchen Fires – Cooking mishaps are the most common cause of fire damages in homes, accounting for 40% of all home fires. To prevent kitchen fires, it is important to handle them properly. If a grease fire occurs, do not throw water on it; instead, use a fire extinguisher or cover the pan with a lid.
- Safety with Portable Heating Appliances – During the winter season, people often rely on space heaters for additional warmth. Although only 2% of residential heating fires are caused by portable heating units, they account for 25% of residential fire fatalities. To ensure safety, keep combustible items at least three feet away from heaters, ovens, and fireplaces. Place heaters on a firm surface and avoid placing them on or near carpets or rugs. Never leave them unattended.
- Preventing Electrical Malfunction Fires – Electrical fires can cause extensive damage to property and even fatalities. They are often caused by faulty or old wiring, incorrect installation, overloaded circuits, overused extension cords, defective appliance cords, or poorly maintained electrical systems. To prevent electrical fires, regularly check the wiring of electric heaters, stoves, ovens, microwaves, television sets, and radios. Replace damaged wires and avoid overloading circuits and extension cords.
- Safety with Cigarettes – Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of fires, injuries, and death. Improperly extinguished cigarettes can smolder for hours and eventually burst into flames. To prevent cigarette-related fires, always fully extinguish cigarette butts by dousing them in water. This type of fire can also release toxic chemicals that can incapacitate individuals.
- Preventing Open Flame Fires – Open flames from unattended fireplaces and burning candles can also cause fires. Ensure the fireplace is in good condition and remove any debris and combustible materials from the hearth area. Keep the flue open and the chimney unobstructed. Install a metal mesh screen to prevent sparks. Never leave burning candles unattended and place them on a heat-resistant surface.
Contact Express Water Damage Restoration
If a fire occurs, contact Express Water Damage Restoration at 817-203-2944 to restore your property to its pre-loss condition. Contact us now. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured full-service fire damage repair company. Our post-fire damage restoration services and fire and
water damage remediation crews are available 24/7 to repair, rebuild, and restore your residential or commercial property after any disaster.
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If you live in Los Angeles, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Phoenix, Arizona; Thousand Oaks, California; San Jose, California or one of our other locations served, contact Express Water Damage Restoration for all your fire cleanup and fire damage restoration, construction, and remodeling needs. We are ready to take your call at 817-203-2944