Fire Damage Restoration Expert Guide - Preparing for a Home Fire

When it comes to hard scenarios, there are events as taxing than a fire that sabotages your house and personal possessions. As a fire damage restoration company, Paul Davis understands what a serious hazard house fires are. Without notification, all it takes is a couple of minutes before a fire sparks. A fire in your house is a terrible and emotionally exhausting situation, whether it destroys everything or not. Yet, you can execute individual things to ensure that you are ready for when a fire happens.

Process and Implement an Emergency Plan

When it comes to home fires, some of them aren't in your control and can't be prevented. That is why it's essential to have safety plans ready. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are necessary, and make sure you have the proper amount to suit your property. Yet, you should consider installing smoke alarms that can detect smoke from electrical fires, since defective wiring is one of the main causes of house fires. If you have children, you'll want to train them on how the smoke alarm sounds and what to do when one goes off. Some other safety measures consist of outlining fire escape routes in your house. Create a strategy and ensure everyone in the house understands the fire escape routes – there needs to be two exits for every room in the home. Also, it's essential to have a planned meeting place outside so you know who gets out of the house and who is absent. Something else you need to do is protect your valuable things such as photographs, birth certificates and passports. You could make digital replicas and store them into cloud storage as a backup, and you can buy a fire safe box to keep the hard copies safe too. Finally, make a record of all your personal belongings for insurance reasons in case they're consumed by the flames.

What to Keep in Mind to Lessen Home Fire Risk

Even though some fires aren't avoidable, there are some things you can do to decrease the possibilities of a fire from developing in your house:

  • Cooking: The kitchen is one of the most vulnerable places for a fire to happen. It's critical to pay attention to what's on the stove or in the oven, and when you have to step out, have someone watch over it until you come back.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Shredded cords and broken plugs could easily initiate a house fire, so make sure to examine your appliances routinely for any problems. In addition, keep an eye on your light switches since if they're hot, they have to be replaced.
  • Portable Heaters: Never allow a portable heater unattended, and keep flammable items three feet away from the heater. It's also essential for your heater to have the right features for safety. For example, it turning off when it falls over.
  • Fireplaces: It's imperative to routinely clean and inspect your fireplace for creosote and other damage. Get a screen for your fireplace that is sturdy and large enough to catch flying sparks and stop logs from rolling.
  • Children: Kids are inquisitive and fire is appealing for them, so educate your children that fire is not something to play with. Also, keep your matches and lighters in an area that is out of sight and out of reach.
  • Smoking: Indoor smoking makes your residence vulnerable to house fires, so the finest approach to prevent a calamity is to smoke outside. If you do smoke inside, have the suitable ashtrays to prevent a cigar or cigarette from rolling onto the ground. Nevertheless, if someone in the house is using oxygen, do not smoke inside as oxygen is highly combustible.

Contact the Skillful Fire Damage Restoration Professionals from Paul Davis

Home fires happen, whether it's a mishap or something out of your power, Paul Davis is here to lend a helping hand. Our fire damage restoration services can restore your house back to normal again. Call Paul at 888-473-7669 and a franchise in your area will be there to help.