8 Important Steps to Fireproof Your Home

2021-10-07
By: Advocate Brokerage

October is fire prevention month, so we feel it is important to take a moment to remind our followers of our best tips for preventing a fire in your home.

Below are 8 Important Steps to Fireproof Your Home

• Install A Central Station Burglar & Fire Alarm – We cannot state strongly enough that the most important precaution you can take is to have a Central Station Fire Alarm installed in your home. If there is some reason you do not yet have a Central Station Fire Alarm installed in your home, you will want to make sure you have smoke detectors on every floor of your home and in each bedroom. Test and change the batteries often (at least every six months).
• Plan An Escape Route – Your family has only an average of 3 to 4 minutes to escape when a fire happens in your home. Every family needs to be prepared which means coming up with a plan that includes two ways out of every room in your home. Review the plan with your family often, especially if you have young kids in the home.
• Have Fire Extinguishers On Hand – We recommend having at least one per floor. Great places to keep fire extinguishers on hand include the kitchen, the laundry room, garage, and your backyard.
• Close & Contain – We encourage you to Close & Contain. In the event of a fire, be sure to close each door behind you as you leave the room to stop the fire from spreading. Never run out of a burning room and leave the door opened. Closing the door saves lives. Also, when you go to sleep at night, be sure to close your door to prevent the spread of any fire that breaks out in the middle of the night. The reason this works is that a closed door limits the fire’s oxygen supply and can help to contain the fire. The closed door slows down or stops the spread of flames, reduces the temperature, and reduces the emission of deadly Carbon Monoxide.
• Always Use A Fireplace Screen – Do not light a fire in your fireplace without a safety screen or glass doors being utilized. If you have glass doors, it is a good idea to keep them open to allow air through, but it is important to keep the screen closed to prevent sparks.
• Discard Ash With Extreme Caution – Fireplace coals can remain hot enough to start a fire for up to three days, so always wait at least that long before disposing of the ashes. Never dump ash before it is cold and never put ash in a bag, garbage container or on your front porch. The safest way to dispose of ash is with a metal shovel into a metal bucket.
• Be Safe With Candles – Do not leave candles burning unattended and never go to sleep when a candle is burning.
• Don’t Overload Electrical Outlets – With the holiday season on the horizon, be sure you follow all safety precautions when it comes to decorating your home with Christmas lights.

We want to do all we can to help you protect yourself and your family from the dangers of a fire at home. If you have any questions about the fire prevention tips listed above, get in touch with us at 914-723-7100. We would be happy to talk with you!