Fire Damage Repair Professional Advice - Planning for a Home Fire

As far as calamitous disasters go there are few things as stunning as a fire that ruins your property and personal belongings. A fire in your property is a distressing and an emotionally exhausting event, whether it destroys everything or not. Yet, there are some measures you can take to decrease the odds of a fire from happening in your house. The fire damage repair team at Paul Davis understands the serious situation of house fires and that's why it's fundamental to know how to prepare your house and what to do when a fire happens.

Preparation for Fire - Property Recovery & Fire Escape Plans

One of the more vital things you can do to plan for a house fire is to have safety practices in place. Since not all fires are preventable, being safe is a necessity. Every house needs the proper amount of fire extinguishers and smoke alarms located around the property. You should also consider getting smoke alarms that trigger from smoke that is produced by electrical fires since faulty wiring is one of the primary culprits of house fires. Kids in the house should be taught what the smoke alarm sounds like when it's triggered and what to do when it does. Other safety procedures consist of outlining fire escape routes in your house. Create a strategy and ensure everyone in the house understands the fire escape routes – there should be two exits for every room in the home. It's also necessary to have a designated meeting place outside so you know who gets out of the house. Taking inventory of your personal property is a good idea for insurance purposes in case all your property is demolished by the flames. You'll also want to store valuable documents such as birth certificates and passports in a fire safe box, and you can make digital copies and upload them to a cloud drive for added measure.

To Lessen the Hazards of a Fire in Your Residence Practice These Measures

Though some fires are uncontrollable, here are some steps you need to take to avoid a house fire:

  • Cooking: It's of the utmost importance to be aware in the kitchen and to not leave cooking food unattended. Always have someone there to keep an eye on everything going on.
  • Appliances and Electrical: Check your light switches to see if they have to be changed out. When you touch them and they're hot, that's a clue that they're damaged. Another thing you have to do is check your electrical appliances for torn cords and broken plugs.
  • Portable Heaters: It's imperative to keep any combustible or flammable items at least three feet from a space heater. You'll also want your heater to have a control mechanism too and other safety features such as shutting off when it falls over.
  • Fireplaces: Getting a legitimate fireplace screen is essential for the safety of your house and everyone in it. Make sure it is reliable enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. You also need to clean your fireplace routinely to remove the intensely combustible creosote that forms.
  • Children: Keep any lighters or matches in a place that is out of reach and out of sight from kids to stop their curiosity from starting a fire. Explain to your kids that fire is not a toy too.
  • Smoking: Indoor smoking makes your house vulnerable to house fires, so the finest approach to avoid a calamity is to smoke outdoors. When you do smoke indoors, make sure you have suitable ashtrays to prevent a cigarette or cigar from falling onto the floor. But if someone in the house is using oxygen, do not smoke indoors since oxygen is highly combustible.

Reach Out to the Experienced Fire Damage Repair Technicians at Paul Davis

Home fires can occur, whether it's something completely out of your power or an accident, Paul Davis is here to lend a helping hand. Our fire damage repair services can restore your house back to normal again. Get in touch with us at 888-473-7669 and a franchise in your area will be there to help out.