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Steps to Protect Your Home From Fire | SERVPRO® of Spring Valley/Jamul
7/13/2022 (Permalink)
In 2022, the American Red Cross has responded to more than 20,000 house fires, which is only a portion of the total number of fires so far this year in the United States.
Smoke detectors will always be the No. 1 way to protect your home from loss, but there are several other things you can do to prevent a disaster—and most of them are as easy as giving your home a good cleaning!
Clutter may already be a term you hate hearing in your home, so let this be a motivator to clean it up: It can also be a fire hazard. Allowing your hallways, stairwells or utility spaces to overfill can fuel a fire once it has started, as well as block emergency exits.
Leaving loose clothing near a water heater can actually start a fire. Keeping your space clear not only means quick access to escape routes in the event of an emergency, but it can also slow down the progression of flames.
Another common source of fire in the home is overloaded extension cords. Unused electrical appliances should be stored away while anything you don’t use frequently should be unplugged as often as possible.
Take a look around your home and make sure there is plenty of space between your furniture and wall outlets to ensure proper air flow and prevent overheating.
You can’t live in California without being aware of the risk of wildfires. Your yard can play a key role in defending your home from a fire that starts outside. Landscaping laid out intentionally can both slow a fire before it reaches your doorstep and allows room for firefighters to work.
This spring brought extremely dry weather for our county, which only increased the wildfire risk in our area. If you have not already, consider creating defensible zones in your yard. While California does have specific regulations for different areas, any zone-specific yard work you do can help in the fight against wildfires.
Keeping your yard clear of dead plants and other debris is also helpful in slowing down flames. According to typical zone regulations, you should only store cut wood in zone 2, or at least 30 to 100 feet away from your home.
This specific landscaping doesn’t mean you can’t plant your favorite items; it simply requires the proper layout and strategic planning of plants that can help to slow the spread. Considering our extreme risks, it is well worth it.
Cleaning the clutter from your home and yard are only part of how you can protect your house. Have your chimney inspected yearly, and clean your stove regularly to eliminate two high fire-risk areas.
It isn’t only deep cleaning that lowers your risk, though; even dusting can increase your overall safety. Pay special attention to those dust bunnies around your electronics and outlets.
Our homes are no longer simply a place of rest—these days we work, play and learn in them. Keeping your home clean is the easiest way to prevent a disaster from fire.
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.