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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Family Fire Safety Tips

9/3/2019 (Permalink)

fire lit in fireplace Fire lit in a fireplace.

As cool weather rolls in, homeowners everywhere are making their homes cozy and warm with fire features. Whether you’re roasting s’mores over a fire pit or are cozying up in front of your fireplace with some hot cocoa, it’s important that you know how to handle the hot flames of a fire. Before you strike that match, take a look at these fire safety tips to help keep you, your family, and your home safe this holiday season.

Family Fire Safety Tips

Preparing your home and family for a fire is the first step towards making sure they are safe during an emergency. When preparing for an emergency and practicing fire safety, always be sure to:

  • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Be sure to place them inside your bedrooms. For added security, connect all of your alarms so that they all go off at the same time if one is triggered.
  • Test your smoke alarms at least once a month. Replace batteries once a year or when it “chirps” to tell you the battery is low. If your smoke alarm is over 10 years old, it should be replaced with a new one.
  • Establish a fire escape plan with all of your family members. Practice your plan twice a year, updating meeting places, exits, and contact numbers as needed.
  • If a fire occurs in your home, get out and stay out. Then, call for help. Do not go back inside until it is deemed safe by emergency personnel.
  • If you are using a space heater, make sure it is at least three feet from anything that could catch on fire.
  • Do not burn candles within one foot of anything that could burn. Make sure you blow it out before leaving the room or going to sleep for the night.
  • Replace any cords that are cracked, damaged, have loose connections, or have broken plugs.
  • Always keep a fire extinguisher handy. A single spark can start a house fire —so it's best to be prepared.
  • Never run into a room filled with smoke or flames.

Fireplace Safety

If you plan to use your fireplace or fire pit this holiday season, it is essential to make sure you know how to use and take care of them. Ensuring a clean chimney system will prolong the fireplace life and usage for years to come.

Basic Fireplace Tips

  • Avoid using wet, rotten, diseased, or moldy wood. When finding fuel to burn in your fireplace, stick with dry, large pieces of wood.
  • Never use gas or lighter fluid to ignite your fire. Instead, use newspaper or kindling.
  • Get your chimney professionally cleaned before using it. A chimney sweep has all of the knowledge, tools, and experience to make sure it is clean, clear, and ready for use.
  • Build your fire slowly, and add more wood as the fire heats up and grows.
  • Always make sure your fire is completely put out before leaving the house or going to bed.

How do Fireplaces Cause House Fires?

After several fires, smoke attaches to the inner chimney lining, creating a dark, sticky, and flaky material called Creosote. When Creosote catches on fire, the inner liners, usually made out of clay or metal, can crack and become distorted from the high temperatures, causing your chimney and fireplace to become vulnerable and unsafe.

Fire Pits

Fire pits are the perfect place to gather and make memories with friends and family over conversation and s’mores. But as fun as they may be, it is extremely important for homeowners to exercise caution around them. Keep these tips in mind when using your fire pit.

  • Install the fire pit at least 10 feet away from structures and anything flammable.
  • Make sure to place the fire pit on a solid surface in an open area, never put it underneath trees or an overhanging roof.
  • Always pay attention to the fire pit and never leave it unattended. It is wise to keep a fire extinguisher nearby and you should always make sure that the fire is completely out before going inside.

What do I do if My House Catches on Fire?

You now know how to take safety measures in preventing a fire from starting inside your home. But what should you do if your house does catch on fire?

  1. If you see that your fire is getting out of control, extinguish it immediately using your fire extinguisher.
  2. If the fire is already out of control, be sure to raise an alarm and get everyone out of the house as quickly as possible.
  3. Once you and your family are all safely out of the house, call 911. Do not stop inside your home to make the call.
  4. Once the house is safe to re-enter, contact your insurance company to begin the claim and restoration process.
  5. Call SERVPRO of Denton to take care of the rest! From handling the fire and water damage to removing the odor, SERVPRO of Denton will restore your home “Like It Never Even Happened!”

SERVPRO of Denton specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility for regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. SERVPRO wants our team to be part of your team! Call us at (940) 566-2277 or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

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