House fires can do tremendous damage to your home and also put your household's lives at risk. It's crucial to practice fire safety and prevention, so you and your house members are prepared in case a fire does happen. Taking steps to prevent fires from occurring helps reduce the risk of having to deal with these fires. The following checklist can help you practice fire safety and prevention.
Make an escape plan
One of the first things on your checklist should be an escape plan. You and your household need to know where to go if a fire occurs. Keep in mind you might need to have two different escape routes available. Establishing these escape routes and practicing your escape plan can help ensure everyone in your house knows how to get out safely.
Practice fire drills twice a year
Run through a fire drill at least twice a year, or more often if needed, with your household. During these drills, practice your escape plan, including escaping via different routes or getting to safety from unexpected places you might be in when a fire breaks out, such as the basement or attic. Running through these fire drills is an important part of making sure your house members stay safe if a fire occurs.
Purchase a fire extinguisher
Having a fire extinguisher in your home provides a handy way to put out smaller fires before they become bigger ones. You might keep your fire extinguisher near your kitchen in case of cooking fires or close to an exit, so you can grab it easily. Maintain your extinguisher to make sure it's in good condition at all times.
Test smoke alarms
Make a habit of checking your smoke alarms weekly to make sure they work. Every level in your home should have at least one smoke alarm. Check and/or replace batteries in your smoke alarms at least once a year, which helps ensure these alarms will go off in case of a fire.
Identify fire hazards
Check for fire hazards in and around your home, such as outlets that aren't working or frayed wires. Move flammable objects a few feet away from fireplaces, and clear out your lint filter to prevent dryer fires. Remove as many fire hazards from your home as possible to prevent house fires from occurring.
About the Author
Ryan Christensen
Responsive, Responsible and Resourceful - How Real Estate Should Be. This is the foundation of our continued success: responsive service, providing accurate and timely information, and demystifying the process. 100% of my business is referral based because I listen to my clients' needs and exceed their expectations. As a full-time real estate broker, I am the best advocate for both my buyers and sellers. I am always available, regardless of the time of day.
Being a native Southern Californian is a tremendous advantage. I know the area. Time is more valuable than money, but neither can be wasted. And, I'm a fan of hard work. My clients can enjoy their home buying and/or selling experience because I provide a trusting, focused, straightforward approach. I look forward to helping you achieve your goals and find joy in homeownership.
I am both a licensed Real Estate and Mortgage Broker. Others choose to concentrate on one or the other. I provide a higher level of service and expertise than those who do not obtain this dual skill set, which differentiates me from other service providers. My decisions and advice are based solely on what is in the best interest of my clients. I use Real Estate Sales as a tool to make sure my clients get the home that meets or exceeds their needs. As a Mortgage Broker, I search for the best loans so I can offer lower rates and pricing than my financing competition. This certainly IS in the client's best interest.