Most house fires are preventable. I spent many years handling insurance claims and coordinating
fire restoration projects at homes that had burned or were damaged by heat and
smoke, and the majority of those fires could have been prevented. The following are some simple tips to
prevent fires in your own home:
1. Reduce
clutter - clutter affects fire safety because it limits the ability to view or
prevent potential fire risks, promotes the spread of flames, and makes it
difficult to extinguish a fire once it starts.
2.
Don't overload electrical outlets. Avoid using power strips or extension cords.
3.
Extinguish cigarettes properly (or just don't smoke).
4.
Never leave a candle unattended; if burning candles do not
place candleholders or jars on a wooden surface without protection (if a candle
burns to the bottom of the base or jar the heat can burn the wood surface
below), and make sure there aren't any combustibles nearby.
5. Don't leave an oven or stove unattended when
in use. Don't store items inside the oven.
6.
Use extreme caution when burning in a fireplace or wood
stove. Understand the components of the
system (fire box, damper, flue, flue cap, etc.), how it works, and potential
risks. Don't let fires burn too
hot. Keep the flue clean and clear of
creosote (this should be checked regularly when in use). Don't burn wet or sappy wood in fireplaces
or wood stoves because it will cause creosote buildup in the flue / chimney.
7.
Keep dryer vents clean and clear.
8.
Do not allow children to play with lighters or matches; keep
fire starting tools and ignition sources out of reach.
9.
No heat lamps.
10.
Do not keep combustibles near heat sources such as stoves,
fireplaces, furnaces, space heaters or water heaters.
11.
No gnawing pets (rabbits, gerbils, domesticated rats, etc.)
because if they are loose they chew on electrical cords and wiring.
12.
Eliminate mice (mice chew on wiring and get in power boxes
causing electrical shorts).
13.
Don't keep chemical soaked rags indoors, and don't launder
rags or other cloth material that's soaked in any flammable chemical / solvent.
14.
Keep combustibles such as gasoline in a separate building or
storage shed if possible.
15.
Do not use glues or solvents designed for outdoor use indoors.
16.
Don't bring grills indoors after use and dispose of used
charcoal properly.
17.
Don't ignite fireworks near structures.
18.
Unplug devices when not in use, such as phone chargers.
19.
Have a working smoke detector at each level of the home,
especially near bedrooms, and have a working carbon monoxide detector in the
home.
20.
Have a fire extinguisher in the home.
Some fires aren't preventable, such
as fires caused by lightning or an unpredictable event such as an electronic
device combusting spontaneously.
However, if you follow the above guidelines you will reduce the risk of
fire your residence significantly, or at least limit the potential for damage from a fire greatly.
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