Article

Preparing for The Worst: Fires

September 29, 2015

As national preparedness month comes to a close, we wanted to remind our policyholders about the importance of a fire safety plan. While hurricanes and the threat of flooding have a dedicated season, a house fire could happen at any time. Being prepared for a fire is the best way you can ensure your home and family are safe from disaster.

House fires most commonly originate in the kitchen. When cooking appliances, like the stove or a coffee pot, are left on for an extended period of time the possibility of a house fire increases. You’ll want to remember to always turn off these appliances after using them and make it a practice your whole family follows.

Another source of house fires is faulty wiring. In older houses, this problem is much more prevalent. You’ll want to check wiring for ware-and-tear every six months and call an electrician if you’re detect anything. Also if you notice any above-ground power lines sagging or being weighed down by palm fronds or tree limbs, call FPL as soon as possible.

Unattended candles are another source of house fires you can control. When you light a candle make sure it is away from loose drapery, is in a sturdy holder, and always extinguish the flame when you leave the room.

Preventing house fires can be easy by paying attention to these common causes. However, a fire may still erupt. To keep your family safe, here are a few tips and how you can create an emergency plan.

  • Make sure that the batteries in your smoke alarms work by testing them every month.
  • Install smoke alarms in every room of your house.
  • Create an exit plan. This includes drawing out a floor plan of your home and indicating all the exits. Decide the safest door to exit from in the event of a fire and make sure your whole family is aware of this plan.
  • Designate a meeting place outside, and ask a neighbor for permission to use their phone to call the Fire Department.
  • Practice exiting the home with your family in a fire drill. Performing these randomly throughout the year can keep your family sharp on what to do and how to exit the home as fast as possible.
  • Keep all of your important documents and extremely valuable possessions in a fireproof safe in the mean time. You never know when a disaster could strike and keeping these important things safe when you’re not using them can save you a lot of time and hassle should you home be destroyed in a fire.

Preventing and being prepared for emergencies is exactly what national preparedness month is all about. We hope that by following these blogs and tips that your family feels comfortable with the preparedness plans you’ve created. If you have questions about creating a preparedness plan, and how you can also protect your home and assets with top-tier insurance policies, give your Viera insurance agent at Wayne Anthony Insurance a call today.

 

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