Don't Become A Statistic: How To Protect Your Home From Fires
Residential fires are a serious concern in the United States. According to statistics, there were over 300,000 house fires in 2015 alone. That's an alarming number of residential fires. While many of those fires were caused by wildfires, others were caused by accidents around the house. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself, and your family, from the ravages of house fires. Here are just four of the steps you can take to prevent devastating house fires:
Install a Fire Alarm System
If you own a home, the most important thing you can do is install an alarm system. An alarm system will not only alert you at the first hint of a fire, it will also serve as a warning system for break-ins. Most alarm systems will alert as soon as smoke is detected, which will allow first responders to be summoned before an active fire ignites. This early detection can help get you and your family out of the house safely. It will also allow more time for firefighters to extinguish the flames.
Take Safety Measures in the Kitchen
When it comes to protecting your family from residential fires, it's important that you take safety measures throughout the house. The first place you should start is in the kitchen. To prevent fires in the kitchen, always keep flammable items away from the stove, including towels, potholders, and even bags. When you're cooking, be sure to turn the burners off as soon as you're done cooking. If you have an electric stove, turn the burner off, and move the pan to a cool burner. This is particularly important when cooking with oil. Electric burners stay hot for several minutes after they've been turned off, which could lead to a fire if the pan of oil is left on the hot burner. It's also important that you keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen at all times.
Inspect Your Electrical Cords and Outlets
House fires aren't always caused by open flames, or other heat sources, such as space heaters. Some house fires are caused by defective wiring. To prevent electrical fires in your home, you should inspect your electrical cords and outlets at least once a month. Check your electrical cords for signs of fraying, or exposed wires, and check your outlets for signs of scorching or melting. If you notice problems with your electrical cords, stop using those particular appliances. If you find damage on your outlets, get them replaced immediately.
Contact a company like Eastern Fire for more information and assistance.