The Basics Of Home Fire Prevention
In 2004 it was estimated there were over 1.5 million fires in the United States, with a loss of 9.8 billion dollars. What is even worse, there were more than 3,900 deaths and 18,000 injuries. That year there were more deaths from fires than from all other causes combined. This number of fires is small compared to how many there actually were, since small fires are usually not reported. Of these fires, 80% of the injuries and fatalities from fire happened in the home. This statistic is particularly sad when you consider that most fires are preventable, by taking a few very simple precautions. If you follow a few basic fire safety rules you can prevent tragedy from striking your home and family.
Smoke detectors are the first line of defense in your home. They should be installed on every floor, and should include the kitchen and every bedroom. Just installing smoke detectors is not enough. If they aren’t taken care of on a regular basis, they may fail when you need them the most. You should check and test your smoke detectors on a regular basis to be certain they are working. The batteries should be replaced once a year whether they need it or not. I suggest replacing all of the smoke detector batteries on New Year’s Day. That way, you can always remember when they were replace last.
A short circuit in the electrical wiring of your home is big cause of home fires. If you do any wiring, be certain you use wire that has been properly rated for your home, and be certain appliances are rated for the outlets in your home. Electrical cords should be kept away from carpets, rugs and draperies, and disconnect appliances when they are not in use. Older appliances should be repaired or replaced before they can cause a fire hazard. Circuit breakers built into the wiring of your home can help prevent fires caused by overloading the circuit.
Another common cause of fires in the home is the electric space heater. It’s important to keep these heaters away from any combustible materials such as draperies and upholstery. When buying a space heater, be certain it has an auto-shutoff feature in case it is tipped over, overloads or overheats. Most of the newer space heaters have these features built into them.
It is wonderful to sit in front of a warm fire in the fireplace on a cold winter’s evening. At the same time that fireplace can be a serious fire hazard if not properly used and taken care of. To begin with, fire screens are a must. It only takes one little spark and a couple of seconds to set your home ablaze. A fire screen can prevent stray sparks from leaving the fireplace.
It’s also important not to overload you fireplace with too much wood or paper. If the fire becomes so large the firebox can’t contain it you could wind up with a tragedy on your hands. At the very least, you will char the outside of the fireplace and possibly the ceiling too.
Keep all combustible materials, such as furniture and drapes away from the fireplace. Even wood furniture can become a problem. Although it may not catch fire, the excess heat from the fireplace could blister the finish.
Be sure to have the chimney cleaned on a regular basis. This will assure the smoke can rise freely, rather than filling your living room with smoke. While most people don’t realize it, birds love to build their nests in chimneys. Cleaning the chimney will prevent setting bird’s nests on fire.
