Is Your Family Prepared for a House Fire?
Did you know there is a house fire every 87 seconds? From 2017 to 2019, an estimated average of 230,500, one or two family residential building fires were reported to fire departments in the United States. JP Maguire prides itself on over 40 years of serving the community, so here are some guidelines and preventative measures to prevent your house from becoming a statistic:
Test your smoke alarms:
Keep your family safe and make sure to test your fire alarms every 6 months. Almost three out of five home fire deaths causation by fires in properties with no smoke alarms (41%) or smoke alarms that failed to operate (16%). Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home (including the basement). For the best protection, make sure they are all interconnected.
Identify your homes fire hazards:
You can’t avoid the oven. Reevaluating or relocating, and even removing fire hazards is a great start. For example, did you know glass décor displayed near a window can soak up the sun and magnify its heat onto a nearby carpet or curtain? Make sure to ensure there are no fire hazards near your oven such as fabrics, paper, or any loose, flammable objects.
Understand your home electrical system:
We all know that electricity makes our life easier but only if used correctly. If you’re looking to buy and or remodel your home, it is crucial to have the electrical work inspected by a professional. After being taken care of, look out for exposed and or frayed cords. Also, if you ever have a frequent problem with your circuit breaker, a tingling feeling when you touch an appliance discolored or warm wall outlets, flickering or dimming lights or sparks from an outlet, call an electrician immediately.
Inspect your Heat Sources
It is essential every year to have a professional service your furnace. The professional will identify if it is not working correctly, preventing a fire. Are you using a space heater to create even more warmth? Keep it away from items that could easily catch fire, like curtains and any furniture. Have your chimney inspected annually by a certified chimney sweep if you have a wood-burning fireplace.
Prevent Kitchen Catastrophes:
Keep up with your kitchen cleaning! Clean up crumbs out of the toaster and unplug appliances when not in use. These are small but incredibly effective ways of preventing any fire from occurring.
Safely store combustible materials including flammable products, which should always be kept away from heat. Coordinate a cool, dark cupboard or storage space for hairspray, cleaning supplies. Additionally, gasoline, kerosene, and propane should be kept outside the original containers.
Practice candle safety:
The national fire protection association reports an average of 21 home fires caused by candles every day. Another study found that 85% of candle fires can be preventable.
By taking precautions to prevent a house fire sometimes still happens. To make sure your family is prepared, learn the ins and outs of fire extinguishers you should have and keep them how to use them often to replace them.
For more information and more helpful blog topics, visit our blog here: Blog – JP Maguire & Associates
We hope you stay safe! JP Maguire and Associates is celebrating 40 years of serving the community.
To learn more about our services, email us
or call us today at
877-576-2484