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This week is National Fire Prevention Week, an initiative set forth by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). Though the week’s focus is on prevention, the subject of house fires is two-fold: prevention and response. This article will explore a few crucial steps to protect your home from potential fires and give you a step up in the worst-case scenario.
There’s a reason why these beeping disks are present in nearly every single list out there—smoke alarms are your first line of detection when you’re not close to the source of a fire. The NFPA suggests that you install smoke detectors in every level of your home, ideally in every bedroom and outside sleeping areas. Test them once a month to ensure optimal operation, and swap them out every 10 years.
Schedule a visit from a licensed electrician to review your home’s wiring. Frayed cables and overloaded outlets can result in sudden electrical fires. On a daily basis, be sure to unplug smaller devices when not in use and retire older appliances. Some of these may still be safe to use, but be on the lookout for signs of wear and hazards like frayed cords, sparks, or voltage changes when you connect them, as well as excessive heat from the device.
Fires spread very easily, especially when there are flammable materials nearby. Make sure you keep anything flammable, like fabrics, paper, and even hair, away from stoves and electric outlets. On this note, never leave cooking fires unattended, especially when cooking with oil.
Despite being a seemingly simple and straightforward task, it’s important to be careful while setting up holiday decorations. Avoid overloading outlets and be on the lookout for faulty wiring, as we discussed above. According to the NFPA, US fire departments respond to an average of 790 home structure fires per year that start with holiday decorations (excluding Christmas trees).
Though technically not prevention, a robust fire response plan can mean the difference between a contained fire and a devastating one.
The first part of a strong response is a reliable distribution of fire extinguishers. Keep a few handy near hazardous places, like kitchens, fireplaces, heaters, and other places where fire and electric usage is constant. Constantly review your fire extinguishers and replace them as necessary.
Additionally, create a consistent fire escape plan if you haven’t already. Generally, a house can be fully engulfed in flames in nearly five minutes, so make sure you and everyone else who lives in the house understand what to do when a fire starts. This plan should include safe exits and the contact information of relevant authorities.
Remember: don’t panic. Follow your response plan, contact the authorities, and evacuate quickly and orderly.
You can never be too prepared for a fire. Stay educated on the common causes of fires and be aware of different tools and methods to address them. Help each other adopt safer ways to handle common hazards, like safe cooking and identifying faulty electric components. As you build an escape plan, support each other in keeping areas clear and finding better ways to evacuate the house quickly.
Protecting your home from fires requires consistent prevention measures and response practices. Following these steps, as well as any others proposed by the authorities, is an excellent way to ensure your home’s protection from accidental fires. Stay safe, stay informed.
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