Preventing Winter Fires In 5 Easy Steps

According to the NFPA, U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated 358,500 house fires every year. 3/4 of all structure fires are home fires. Most of which are preventable if the homeowners took the necessary precautions to avoid a fire to break out in their homes. Because of the alarming number of house fires that happen throughout the United States, the NFPA offers many resources, tools, and tips on how to prevent a fire from starting in your home and potentially destroying it. Taking the proper precautions doesn’t mean that you will never experience a house fire, but you most definitely can decrease the risk of experiencing one. If a house fire does break out in your area, Stover’s Flood And Fire are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help.

There are many ways that you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe from a fire, follow the tips below:

1. Keep Up On Smoke Alarms – don’t put up smoke alarms and then forget about them all year. Your smoke detectors need to be tested regularly and the batteries replaced. Schedule a routine check-up of these so that you don’t forget about them. The National Fire Protection Association reports that nearly 1,450 lives are taken each year in house fires where homes were missing or had non-functioning smoke alarms.
2. Routine Maintenance Of Furnaces – Invest in your future and hire a professional to check your furnace at least once a year. If anything is wrong with the furnace, it will be caught early and decrease the risk of a fire starting there.
3. Do Not Leave Candles Burning – Candles create a nice ambiance and can set a calm mood – but you don’t want to leave them going without supervision. Also, be extremely cautious about the location of the candle. It doesn’t have to be in direct contact with something to heat it up or send out sparks that could start a fire. Blow your candles out when you aren’t using them.
4. Space Heaters Need Space – Do not clutter the area around a space heater. These are extremely hazardous if placed near blankets, curtains, and other fabrics. Do not allow anyone, including pets, to sit any closer than 3 feet of the heater. Also, do not leave a space heater on over-night. Put it on a schedule or make sure it has automatic shut-off controls so that it isn’t forgotten.
5. Invest In A Fire Extinguisher – Everyone should have a fire extinguisher in the home and know how to use it. Don’t store the extinguisher away in a place that is difficult to get to. If a fire should break out – DO NOT be afraid to use the extinguisher.

Cleaning up after a house fire can be devastating for all involved. Fire damage cleanup experts know how to properly repair and restore home properties to their clients, but it is devastating for them to see how much the families in their communities have lost. Take some time and invest in protecting your home and family from house fires. If a fire does happen to break out in your home, call the professionals at Stover’s Restoration in Wichita to help you put your life back together faster.