For many, a fire in the home is a nightmare scenario to be
avoided at all costs. Beyond simply being quick to spread and difficult to
control, house fires are capable of doing an extraordinary amount of damage in
a remarkably brief period of time. As if this were not trouble enough, however,
fires can also prove deadly to those living in a home if not quickly controlled
or prevented outright.
In light of these concerns, the
most important question for many homeowners looking to prevent or protect
against house fires should be an obvious one: what kinds of measures can be
taken to ensure that a home receives the best possible protection against fires
and the factors that contribute to them? The following tips and strategies are
intended to serve as a comprehensive beginner’s guide to home fire prevention, and
should ultimately allow for greater security and peace of mind year-round.
1.
Ensure that your home has a sufficient number of
working smoke alarms. There should be a minimum of one smoke alarm on each
level of the home, and the batteries in the alarms themselves should be checked
and replaced on a regular basis. Test your smoke alarms once a week (by
pressing the “test” button which comes included on most commercially available
units), replacing the batteries every year or as needed.
2.
Take appropriate care when using electrical
appliances or plugging them into wall sockets. Plugging too many appliances
into one or several sockets could cause them to overheat, which in turn could
lead to an increased risk of fire. For this reason, it is essential to ensure
that the minimum possible number of appliances is plugged into each socket, and
that any changes in this regard are carefully monitored. Appliances themselves should
also be inspected regularly, as any wiring that is old, damaged or otherwise
faulty could ostensibly trigger a fire under the right circumstances.
3.
A home’s electrical systems should also be
checked regularly by a certified electrician to ensure that they are safe and
up to current standards. Older homes should be given particular attention as
their wiring may have become defective with age, and any necessary replacements
of these systems should be made immediately.
4.
Candles and wood-burning fireplaces should be used
with extreme care, if at all. When burning candles, check to see that the area
around them has been cleared of potentially flammable materials such as paper,
oils and plastics, and ensure that they are securely fastened to a holder or
frame that will prevent them from falling or tipping over. It is also advised
never to leave candles burning when leaving a room, even if only for a moment. When
using a wood-burning fireplace, attentiveness is equally important; homeowners
may want to take additional precautionary steps, however, such as laying down a
flame-retardant mat in front of the fireplace and ensuring that the chimney is cleaned
on a regular basis.
5.
As more than half of all house fires are
believed to be cooking-related, take particular care when using ovens, stovetops,
toasters or any other cooking appliances that could start a fire if handled improperly.
Many cooking oils are also flammable, so try to remember this when using them
around the kitchen.
6.
If you or anybody in your household smokes, make
certain that all butts are properly stubbed out and disposed of. Smoking in bed
or in a reclined position elsewhere in the house is also highly inadvisable, as
it increases one’s likelihood of falling asleep with a still-lit cigarette and
starting a fire.
7.
Although one should not make a habit of
expecting the worst, being prepared for it is often a good idea. Keeping a
working fire extinguisher within easy reach is advisable even at home, where
fires are rarely predictable or expected. You should also make a “fire escape
plan” in the event that you or anyone else in your home knows exactly what to
do and how to get out of the house in the event of a fire. “Bedtime checks”, in
which appliances and other potential sources of concern are checked immediately
before bed, are also recommended and will help to ensure the greatest possible
degree of safety and protection for you and those living with you.
For many homeowners, following
these simple steps might well prevent the unthinkable from happening and, with
it, the loss of life or valuable property. As damage from house fires can also
result in expensive home insurance claims and increased insurance rates in the
years that follow, being smart about fire safety could save you far more than
simply the cost of your personal effects as well. At the end of the day, we
must face the facts: being fire-safe just makes sense, and the sooner we come
to realize this, the better.