Not all fires are one hundred percent preventable. However, there are several steps you can take to reduce the amount of devastation a home fire could cause. Do your best to prevent a fire before it occurs and the damage may be minimized.
- Make sure there are smoke alarms on each level of your home and within earshot of every bedroom. About fifty percent of home fire deaths occur when most people are sleeping– between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am.
- Test all of your smoke detectors once a month and replace batteries regularly. Have a plan to get out of your home in less than two minutes– that’s the average amount of time it takes for a fire to get out of control.
- Once you are out of your home, stay out! Store keepsakes and mementos in a fire safe box so you aren’t tempted to re-enter the burning building.
- Never leave food unattended while cooking. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking equipment directly causes more fires than any other type of hazard.
- Avoid smoking in the home. Smoking materials result in more civilian home fire deaths than any other type of hazard, including kitchen fires.
- Refrain from using space heaters, if possible. Heating equipment is the second leading cause of both home fires and deaths resulting from home fire.
