Fire Safety, Room by Room

12/17/2019 (Permalink)

Be safe throughout your home and prevent a disastrous fire before it starts.

Americans are hit with 350,000 house fires each year, which can uproot your family, destroy your home and personal items—and even be fatal!

Let’s look at the hazards, room by room, so you can reduce your own risk of suffering a fire disaster in your home. Since half of all home fires start with kitchen fires, we’ll start there.

The Kitchen

Kitchens are filled with appliances that generate heat to cook food, so take basic precautions when using them—and keep a charged fire extinguisher nearby.

Oven and Stovetop

• Clean your oven and cooktop regularly, because baked-on grease and food residue easily become fuel for a fire.
• Never leave food cooking on a stovetop unattended.
• Keep fabric such as towels, dishcloths and clothing away from heat and open flames.

Dishwasher

• If you have an older dishwasher, have it inspected because older heating elements can overheat and cause a fire.

Microwave

• Don’t microwave flammable materials, such as aluminum foil, Styrofoam or some plastic containers (check the markings on the bottom of the container).

Toaster or Toaster Oven

• Consider replacing your older toaster, which can have faulty heating elements that may not turn off.
• Don’t leave your toaster running unattended.
• Clean the accumulated crumbs out of your toaster regularly.

The Bedroom

Filled with cozy bedding, mattresses, curtains and many other items, the bedroom is stocked with flammable objects. Here are a few ways to reduce your risk of a fire starting here—and increase your chances of escaping quickly if one does start.

Mattress

• If your mattress was manufactured before 2007, it may not be flame retardant. Consider purchasing a new one.

Smoke Alarm

• Every bedroom should have a smoke alarm installed and regularly tested.

Escape Plan

• Create and practice a fire escape plan. Include two ways to leave each room (typically a door and a window).

The Living/Family Room

Like bedrooms, living or family rooms typically house lots of flammable items, such as upholstered furniture, drapes and curtains, and electronics.

Fireplace

• Have your fireplace and chimney cleaned, inspected and maintained at least once a year. If you detect a quarter-inch buildup of creosote or soot, schedule a cleaning now.
• Clean the fireplace yourself regularly throughout the year, based on how often you use it.
• Always place a metal or glass screen in front of a burning fire to prevent sparks from flying out.
• Keep rugs and other fabrics away from the fireplace.
• After the fire is extinguished, store the ashes in a metal container with a lid, bring the container outside and place it at least three feet away from your home or garage.

Candles

• Keep candles away from flammable objects.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended, and always put the candle out completely when you are done burning it.

If you’ve suffered fire damage to your home or business, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield today at (860)461-7194

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If you’ve suffered fire damage to your home or business, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield today at (860)461-7194