Home Fire Prevention

Introduction:

There are over 300,000 home fires that occur annually. Although fire alarm and smoke detectors plays a major role in fire survival, fire prevention can reduce the probability that you will experience a house fire. Nearly all house fires can be prevented provided precautionary measures are practiced. The following home fire prevention tips and home fire safety tips that can minimize the occurrences of the three leading causes of house fires; kitchen and cooking, HVAC equipment and electrical wiring.

Kitchen and cooking fires:

• Never disable the smoke or fire alarm system.
• Keep a constant watch on cooking food as most kitchen fires are due to unattended cooking.
• Use a timer so you will not forget that you're cooking something if you need to leave the kitchen.
• Always have a cover available when frying food. If the cooking food catches fire placing a cover over it will usually extinguish the flame.

Preventing HVAC equipment

One of the most common origins of residential fires is caused by heating and cooling equipment. Home HVAC equipment pertains to the central heating system, space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves. Here are a few prevention steps to reduce or eliminate these types of house fires.

• Perform routine annual maintenance on your central heating and cooling system. 
• Ensure the fireplace chimney is regularly checked and cleaned. Have it cleaned at least once a year.
•  Never leave a portable heater that is on unattended or while you are asleep. These heating devices are designed only as temporary adjunctive heaters and should be operated only when someone can attend them.
• Use only portable heating devices that have been sealed by a nationally accredited testing group.  

Preventing electrical wiring and lighting fires:

Faulty wiring and lighting comprise the third leading cause of home fires. Many are due to faulty outlets and old wiring that have deteriorated. Here are a few prevention steps to reduce or eliminate these types of house fires.

• Discard any cracked or stiff electrical cords.
• Check for loose wires in electrical cord plugs. Replaced any cord that has a defective plug.
• Avoid using extension cords for long periods. Install additional outlets if needed. 
•  Keep flammable items away from light bulbs.  
• Do not cover a lampshade with a piece of clothing or towels.
• Use only the wattage light bulbs recommended. High wattage bulbs can lead to the overheating of the fixture which can cause a fire.

You can prevent most fires that can occur in your home following common fire preventions steps. And remember, every home should have a fire extinguisher.

Related articles:

Home Fire Extinguishers

Smoke and Fire Detector Installation

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