Roughly 375,000 homes experience fire & smoke damage each year, and a vast majority of these fires were preventable. Learning how to avoid a fire is obviously better than knowing how to deal with the restoration process after the fact. While any company that deals with cleanup and restoration after fire & smoke damage would help you through the process, they also hope you never need their service in the first place. Here are a few important facts for preventing fires and some tips for the action to take if you do experience a fire.
First, it is important to know that most fires start small and are completely manageable if you react quickly. You are in a better position to do this if you equip your home with smoke detectors and extinguishers. Be sure to follow up with a battery check and inspection of both on a regular basis to ensure they function properly when needed.
Second, keep dust and clutter to a minimum, as both can act as fuel in the case of a fire. A spark that lands on a clean surface is more likely to just go out, but if it lands on something flammable, it is a different story completely. Be sure to clean out your dryer’s lint trap, too, and replace old appliances and electronics with worn cords to avoid that spark in the first place.
Taking steps to avoid a fire should only be part of your plan. The other part is to have an escape plan and understand fire safety guidelines and practice them with your family. While nobody wants to have to deal with fire & smoke damage, it is far worse to experience burns, smoke inhalation, and other undesirable outcomes.
