A fire in your home is a terrifying thought. No one wants to deal with the tragedy of a home fire and the damage that comes along with it, but luckily there are a number of easy steps that we can all take to prevent a fire. Fire restoration can be a costly service, so make sure to prevent the need for it with the following tips.
U.S. homeowners in heavily wooded regions are especially at risk if and when a wildfire starts. If you live in one of these areas, it’s crucial that you know how to prepare for possible wildfires and how to keep your home and your family safe if a fire starts. To help you out, here are some safety tips split into two categories: preparation for and survival during a wildfire.
North Carolina fire restoration companies have seen it all. They know what you are going through after you experience a fire and they are there to help you. This means that they also know their way around a home damaged by fire. In this article, you will learn the North Carolina fire restoration do’s and don’ts.
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Do Call a North Carolina Fire Restoration Company ASAP
After making sure the fire is out and everyone is safe, the damages need to be assessed. Of course, you need to call your insurance company and let them be aware of what is happening. But your next call should be to a North Carolina fire restoration company. They will help you to understand what it’s going to take to get your home back to normal.
Don’t Panic
It might be hard to keep your emotions in check in this situation. After all, your family just suffered a great loss of a safe home and personal belongings. But keeping your cool will help you, your family, and your fire restoration team stress-free. By doing so, everyone can do what they are supposed to do so that you can get back into your home as soon as possible.
Do Get a Copy of the Fire Report
This might not be on your mind, but it should be. Make sure you call your firefighters’ office and ask them for a copy of the fire report. This will contain vital information that your insurance company and your North Carolina fire restoration team will need.
Don’t Eat or Drink Anything
This is important. Remember to throw away any type of food or drink that could have come into contact with fire, smoke, soot, or water that put out the fire. These things could have contaminated your food and can make you or your family sick. Even if it looks unscathed, you should stay away if it was out in the open near the fire.
DoLearn How to Prevent Future Fires
After your North Carolina fire restoration team deals with the damage and fixes your home, ask them for advice. They will be able to provide you with the proper information to keep you and your family safe. Your fire restoration team might even be able to help you find the best smoke detectors or equipment for your home.
When you’re dealing with a fire and don’t know what to do, your North Carolina fire restoration team can help. Remember to call for an assessment, get a copy of the fire report, and learn how to prevent future fires. Also, remember: don’t panic and don’t eat or drink food that was near the fire. These are the North Carolina restoration do’s and don’ts. If you have to deal with a fire in your home in the future, look back on these tips. These tips could help to keep you stay calm and collected in the midst of a stressful situation.
Your home is your sanctuary. At home, you should feel that your family and possessions are safe and secure. Yet, many homeowner fear losing it all to fire, and rightfully so. Fire is the greatest threat homeowners face in terms of damage to their property. Roughly seven people die in house fires every day, and over five times as many are injured in house fires daily. Over $7B in damage is done to property every year as a result of house fires. While these numbers are staggering, there is good news, too—many of these disasters are preventable.
By following the guidelines presented by our home maintenance company in the following four tips to prepare for and prevent house fires, you may drastically reduce the risk of a fire occurring in your home.
Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms – This one action could cut your risk of death by fire in half. Roughly 3 out of every 5 deaths in a house fire occur in a home without smoke alarms, or with non-functioning smoke alarms. Two types of smoke detectors are available: ionization and photoelectric. Ionization alarms are more responsive to flaming fires, and photoelectric alarms react better to smoldering fires. Since no one can predict what type of fire will occur, the safest choice is to use dual smoke detectors. Additionally, it is a good idea to interconnect them, so that if one is triggered, they all will be set off in response. This way, regardless of where people are in the house, they should hear the alarm. Place smoke alarms on every level of the home, including the basement, and both in- and outside bedrooms. Test your smoke alarms monthly, and replace batteries every six months, ideally when you change your clocks in the spring and fall.
Have an Escape Plan – If your home catches fire, you may have as little as two minutes to escape. Many people falsely believe they have more time, but this misconception could cost you your life. Make an escape plan in advance, so that if a fire ever does start in your home, you already know the fastest way to get out. This is especially important if you have children. Astonishingly, up to 80% of families have not practiced fire escape drills with their children. Talk to your family about the importance of a fire escape plan, and practice it with them occasionally. Hopefully you will never need to use it, but if the situation arises, at least you will be prepared.
Use Caution with Common Fire-Causing Activities – Cooking is the top cause of house fires. Keep alert while cooking and do not leave your stovetop unattended. Stay in the kitchen, or, if baking or simmering, check in regularly and use a timer as a reminder. Keep flammable objects away from your stovetop, such as towels, curtains, oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, etc. Another leading cause of house fires is candles. If you choose to burn candles in your home, keep them at least one foot away from anything that can burn, and be attentive at all times. And always be sure to extinguish them if you are leaving the room. Use sturdy candle holders and never allow a candle to burn all the way down to the end.
Be Mindful When Using Electricity – Minimize your use of extension cords, and never use them for major appliances. When using heat-producing appliances, plug only one into an outlet at a time. A few warning signs of electrical problems include: an outlet that produces sparks, wall outlets that are warm, flickering lights, appliances that emit a burning smell, and appliances that generate a tingling feeling when touched. If any of these situations occurs, take all safety precautions and unplug the offending appliance immediately.
If you have been a victim of a house fire and require fire and smoke damage restoration services, call Warren Restoration. Our two family-owned and operated offices are located in Big Stone Gap, VA, and Hendersonville, NC, and we serve an approximate 2-hour radius from each. We can safely and effectively handle all your fire cleaning and restoration needs.