Keeping Your Home Safe from Fires
It’s essential to put home fire safety measures in place to preserve your health, safety, and property. Start with learning how to avoid accidental fires. Next, make sure you have the right tools and equipment to help keep your family safe in case of a house fire. Lastly, make a plan to keep everyone safe should you need to evacuate your home due to a fire.
Don’t Skimp on Fire Safety Equipment
Every home should have the following fire safety equipment:
- A smoke detector inside and outside of every bedroom.
- At least one smoke detector on every level, including the basement and attic.
- A carbon monoxide detector on every floor.
- A fire blanket in the kitchen.
A small fire extinguisher is a critical piece of fire safety equipment that can put out a small fire before it spreads. Make sure that you know how to operate it safely and effectively. Familiarize yourself with how to use an extinguisher and inspect it annually to make sure that it is operable.
Prevent Fires by Practicing Basic Home Fire Safety
There are some routine home fire safety measures that all homeowners should follow. Store matches, lighters, and flammable liquids in a safe location, away from places that could cause them to ignite. Double-check that your stove, oven, and space heaters are turned off when not in use. Never leave these appliances unattended.
If you have a fireplace or a free-standing stove, basic fire safety points include:
- Schedule annual cleaning and inspection of the chimney, chimney liner, and flue to remove buildup and minimize the risk of a chimney fire.
- Know what kind of fuel can or cannot be burned safely in your unit.
- Wait three days for the ashes to cool before disposing of them safely.
- Make sure that a responsible adult is present at all times when a fire is burning.
Make a Home Fire Safety Plan Now
The average fire doubles in size every 60 seconds, so you’ll need to move quickly if one starts in your home. Having a plan in place and reviewing it with all household members is a key component of fire safety.
Designate a meeting point at least 50 feet away from your home and know all the potential routes to get there. Go through the house with your family, pointing out different exit paths. Purchase fire ladders for bedrooms on the upper floors in case it is not safe to exit through the door.
Northern Florida Home Inspections offers home inspections to customers in northern Florida. Contact us to request an appointment.