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Easy Steps to Prevent Fire in Your Home | SERVPRO® of Billings
5/23/2022 (Permalink)
If your home is damaged in a house fire, SERVPRO of Billings is here to help. Contact us for any fire restoration needs.
The American Red Cross has responded to more than 20,000 house fires in 2022, and that is only a small amount of the total number of fires the United States has seen so far.
Smoke detectors will always be the top way to protect your home and your life, but there are other preventive measures you can take, even as simple as cleaning your home.
Excessive clutter in our home can be an issue of its own, but allowing stairwells, hallways and utility spaces to hold unused materials can be a fire hazard. Cloth items such as loose clothing, extra blankets and pillows can act as fuel to a fire.
Clothing left near a water heater can actually start a fire when the water heater turns on. With our cold climate, it is likely you have a space heater in your home, and allowing items to pile up near it can create another fire hazard.
Space heaters should never be near drapes or furniture, and should always be in an open area of your home. Clean your space heater before you store it for the warmer months, and be sure to check it for dust before the next use as well.
Make sure your space heaters or any other warming device you use is plugged into a unit that is not overloaded. Overloaded extension cords are another source of fire in your home. Put away electrical appliances you don’t use, and unplug anything you don’t use often.
Always leave room between furniture and wall outlets to avoid overheating and allow for proper air flow.
The landscaping in your yard can play a key role in protecting your home from fire that starts outside. Laying out your landscape in intentional ways both slows a fire and allows space for firefighters to work in the event of an emergency.
Intentional landscaping for fire safety is known as creating defensible zones. States like California have actually imposed specific requirements for zoning in yards, but this type of prevention is useful everywhere.
This doesn’t mean you can’t plant what you want; instead, it requires strategic placement of plants and trees to protect your home. You also need to keep your yard clear of dead leaves and limbs, as this can fuel a fire. With as common as maple trees are in Montana, that can mean a lot of raking!
Clearing out your home and yard isn’t the only cleaning that can prevent fires. Your chimney and stove are two other areas with a high risk of fire, and regularly cleaning them can make a big difference.
Lowering the fire risk doesn’t just mean deep-cleaning either. Dusting your home is actually an act of fire prevention, particularly dusting around electrical appliances and outlets. So attack those dust bunnies with the pleasure of knowing you are protecting your home and loved ones!
Our homes are more than a sanctuary these days—they also serve us for work, play and even schooling. Keeping your house clean is the best way to prevent the devastation a fire would cause.
If you have experienced fire damage or want to learn more about our fire damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, 24⁄7