5 Effective Ways to Prevent House Fires

Strictly speaking, fire is no human invention. It existed way before humans walked the Earth, millions of years ago. Lightning would have provided the ignition ages ago. The discovery of fire, of course, proved to be pivotal in the existence of man. Solid evidence in the caves of Israel way back 400,000 years ago in the Qesem Cave point out how ancient men repeatedly made use of fire to survive.

Today, when over 7 billion inhabitants live off the planet, fire is at the center of it all. Even with alternative ways of cooking, fire is still the go-to method to cook food. Unfortunately, even with all the technology today, fire accidents happen all over America yearly. Each year, fire claims over $14 billion in property damage along with the lives of 4,000 Americans, on average. That includes approximately 500 children (14 and under) yearly.

It’s a tragic loss. The worse part is most, if not all, of these incidents, are entirely preventable. The majority of these fire-related deaths are not due to direct contact with fire. Actual burns account for only 30 percent of all fire-related injures and deaths. Rather, most die by the inhalation of smoke/toxic gases.

While preparing for the incidence of fire is wise, preventing it from ever starting in your home is the better course of action. Putting safety measures to mind should bid you well in this regard. Consider the following expert how-to’s listed below to get started.

Educate Everyone

No one wants to deal with a fire incident. Truth be told, fire is a very dangerous powerful enemy. Case in point: how fire guts big giant sequoias, trees that are known to grow as high as 300 feet. Recent California fires have fried many monarch sequoia trees to oblivion.

Therefore, your best move to prevent fire is to educate everyone, children including, about how dangerous fire is. Most importantly, ensure that each one knows essential fire safety measures. That should include never leaving the kitchen when cooking or playing with matches/candles.

In this regard, you will have to enforce needed changes to keep everyone safe. You can put wall reminders in the kitchen, for one, to never leave the stove burning even for a second. Just one wrong turn of the flame could leave your kitchen in flames.

Test Smoke Alarms

Fire alarms need to be tested once a month at the very least, according to U.S. Fire Administration. What’s more, you need to replace the device once every decade.

In the age of the internet, switching to a more hi-tech approach should bid you well. That means relying on smart detectors. Not only will it notify you when your alarm needs a battery change, but also inform you via your mobile phone when a fire alarm goes off.

Even better, you can incorporate it into your smart home system so fire emergency services are automatically notified when a fire breaks out. When you do so, you can even avail of a smart home discount on your American Family Insurance.

A good rule of thumb is to have one alarm in every bedroom, in the kitchen, and at each level of the house.

Keep Flammable Materials Away

Fire happens when there’s fuel to burn, ample oxygen, and ignition. That’s exactly why you need to dispose of debris on the lawn. Lawn clippings built up over time along with dry leaves just need a spark to create a huge fire that could endanger your home.

Additionally, you should ensure flammable materials such as rubbing alcohol should be tucked safely away from open flames. Other materials you need to keep away from heat are:

• Hair spray
• Aerosol cans
• Gasoline
• Paint thinner
• Cooking oil
• Flour
• Nail polish

Check Your Wiring and Home Appliance

Make sure you keep track of everyday home equipment that could catch fire. A glorious example here is the dryer vent.

Without proper maintenance and cleaning, your clothes dryer could burn (i.e., presence of heat, flammable material). It’s why allowing professionals to clean your dryer vent now and then is wise.

The same holds true for your heating and air conditioning units. Let experts clean them on a regular basis, so they don’t overheat and cause a fire. In the kitchen, endeavor to clean your oven and stove. As for your fireplace, use seasoned hardwood only for best results.

Keep Pets Contained

Animals don’t usually start fires. But as strange as the thought is, pets have been responsible for about 700 home fires in America yearly. Sadly, stats show about 4,000 pets die every year of home fires.

So it’s never a good idea to have pets roam around freely when you’re not around. Keep them contained in crates or put them in a safe room where they won’t be able to chew electrical wires like a toy. If you can’t find an appropriate place, keep your pet in the bathroom.

It’s best you plug all the holes where a fire could gut your home. Do a checklist if you have to. It might take some effort. But it’s all worth the good night’s sleep your whole family enjoys every night.

Meta title: Safe Home Hacks: 5 Secrets to House Fire Prevention
meta desc: Fire is a useful tool no doubt. But it can be a very dangerous agent of destruction and death Read on to find out ways to prevent house fires from ever happening.