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Home Fire Safety Tips

If you own your own home, then you should take measures to keep that home and all your belongings safe from fires. First and foremost is the safety of your family – they can’t be replaced! Secondly, is your home and all of the tangible things that are also important to you. Although, most things can be replaced, do you really want to start over? By thinking ahead and making plans you can substantially reduce the risk of fire in your home or at the very least ensure your family members safety in the event a fire does break out.

You must ensure that your fire safety measures are always set up and operating properly. Some fires may seem small and harmless, but no matter what kind it is, you must make an effort if you want to prevent the worst from happening. Always keep a direct line of sight when you are cooking food, especially when it involves high heat. Protect your fireplaces using metal mesh screens. Keep candles away from curtains or stacks of paper, and always keep them in holders; don’t place them directly on furniture. When using electrical devices, always be aware of fire safety. If you smoke, do it outside the house and when you’re ready to dispose of your cigarette or cigar, put it out or, better yet, run water over it just to make sure.

But that’s not all. You also need to maintain a habit of checking all of your electrical installations. You should bring in a licensed electrician from time to time to check your house for you. Unplug your electrical devices when you are not using them or you are away from home; leaving them on can cause them to overheat and cause a fire. Avoid overloading your electrical outlets and keep flammable objects away from them. Be sure to install fire extinguishers in possible problem areas like the kitchen, furnace and laundry rooms and also be sure everyone know how to operate them. You may know how to use one but do your other family members know how? They will not have time to read the directions!

Remember, protecting your home and family from fires requires knowledge and planning and involvement from every member in your family. Practice evaluating your Fire Safety Procedures with your family. A good time to review your fire safety checklist would be when you test your smoke detectors. If you don’t think you will remember each month, then mark it on your calendar or put one of your kids in charge of reminding you (kids love being in charge of something). If you have a wood burning fireplace, have your chimney cleaned out at least once a year by a professional chimney sweeper. Always use common sense and caution when decorating for the holidays. Christmas time is great for entertaining with lots of candles and loads of lights everywhere but are you diligent in keeping your tree filled with water? Ensure the lights are turned off  when you go out and if you have candles lit remember to blow them out before you leave the room. Instead of using real candles, try a great alternative; the battery operated flames that mimic a candle. Save your candles for decoration only! Be sure everyone in your household knows the dangers of placing items on your stove that don’t belong there. If you have a flat top ceramic stove, don’t use it as an extension of your counter top.

Now you have some tips about home fire safety. Be vigilant, keep an eye on your outlets, install the necessary equipment and include everyone in your home fire plan.