According to the American Red Cross, if a fire starts in your home, you have as little as two minutes to get out of your home. American Restoration Water & Fire has seen first-hand thousands of times the damage all different size fires can cause to your home and your belongings. The seriousness of fire should never be taken lightly, that is why our team of fire restoration technicians has compiled valuable information so you can make informed decisions when it comes to preventing a fire in your home.
One of the most important things you can have in your home is a smoke alarm. These should be in every room of your home. It is recommended that your fire alarm batteries be changed every 6 months to make sure that they stay in proper working condition. It’s also important to test your smoke detectors once a month and should be changed with new ones every ten years. You should also have a fire extinguisher in your home should a small fire arise.
Most home fires start in the kitchen with grease fires, a dish towel too close to a flame, or even a cleaning product that is too close. These are all examples of ways that a fire can start in your kitchen and quickly become out of control.
- Grease Fire: If your grease has caught fire, SMOTHER IT with a lid, a sheet pan, anything that will deprive it of oxygen. DO NOT ADD WATER. Water will cause the grease fire to spread. Once you have it covered, move it safely off the heat source and wait for it to cool before lifting the cover you have put on it.
- A dish towel/ cleaning solution: It’s really easy to get distracted when you are trying to multitask, especially when you are cleaning as you cook. Be sure that your paper towels, dish rags, and cleaning chemicals stay away from your stovetop and oven area. These products are always flammable.
If you don’t already, American Restoration recommends that all family members be made aware of their emergency plan. If a fire starts in your downstairs kitchen which is also situated next to the exit where the fire began, what is another way your family members can safely exit your home? Parents of children that have a room upstairs can buy window ladders for their rooms so that children and additional family members can exit safely while they wait for the fire department to arrive. Be sure to talk about several scenarios, and write it out if you need to! American Restoration is here for all of your home fire restoration needs.
