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You Can Help Prevent Home Fires | SERVPRO® of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties
6/10/2022 (Permalink)
If your home is damaged in a house fire, SERVPRO of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties East is here to help. Contact us for any fire restoration needs.
In only the first few months of 2022, the American Red Cross has responded to more than 20,000 house fires. That number is not even the full extensive list of house fires that have happened in the United States so far this year.
Having a fully functioning smoke detector in your home is still the most reliable way to prevent total fire devastation and death, but there are a variety of things you can do in your daily life to prevent home fires from even starting in the first place.
While we all have possessions and things that we need and want to round out the comforts of our home, sometimes excess clutter can become overwhelming and actually contribute to a larger and more intense home fire if one starts.
The more materials in your home, the more fuel a fire can consume after it has begun. Try to limit the amount of things in the common areas of your home.
Take care to keep clothing piles to a minimum around units like your water heater. Excess flammable clothing can be a fire risk if left to build up over time.
Overloaded extension cords are also another large reason for unexpected home fires.
Do not overload your outlets and power cords, as it can be reckless to do so. Unplug appliances and products when you are not actively using them, and reduce the number of outlets you use on a consistent basis when you can.
You can unintentionally start a fire outside of your home as well! Did you put off raking and cleaning up your yard before the winter season?
If you have lots of dried pine needles or oak leaves in piles near your home or pushed against air units, they can easily be fuel to a fire. Take care to clear those leaves, pine needles and grass clippings regularly.
Defensible space simply means strategically planting trees and plants around your home to be a deterrent for a fire to reach your home. The longer it takes fire to consume your landscaping, the more time your local firefighters have to reach you and combat it before it breaches your house.
States like California have actually imposed defensible zone requirements for yards because of their proven effectiveness in home protection. Even though we don’t live in California, we can use that knowledge to adapt our landscaping practices in western Wisconsin, too.
Regular house cleaning is always a good idea to promote good health, but it can also help prevent house fires! Give your stove and chimney a good cleaning, and pay attention to any areas that could be a fire hazard or blocking proper ventilation.
You should also be doing a deep dusting of your appliances, air units and anything that is often overlooked in your home. When dust collects, the fire risk increases. Simply taking some time with a duster in your house can help.
If you have experienced fire damage or want to learn more about our fire damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, 24⁄7.