Tips for Preventing Home Fires

1/10/2019 (Permalink)

Kitchen fires remain the leading cause of all home fires. Watch that cook-top to prevent this from happening to you.

n 2012, burn injuries accounted for more than 450,000 trips to the doctor’s office. 40,000 required hospitalization, resulting in 3,400 deaths. Of those deaths, 2,550 were attributed to residential fires. 

As the temperatures drop, you’re bound to be spending more time inside. Maybe you’ll be cuddling up by the fireplace with a loved one, or maybe you’ll be posted up next to the closest heater. 

No matter how you plan to spend the winter months, we here at SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Fore and Joyce Jackman and Bell Insurors, want to help you stay safe and avoid fires this holiday season.

Tips for Preventing Home Fires

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department recently released the following simple tips to keep your home fire-free.

Keep an eye on the Cook-top

Stop! Don’t walk away from that pan. Did you know that cooking is the leading cause of home fires? If you put something on the stove, be sure to turn off the burner before leaving the kitchen.

“Smoking hot” shouldn’t apply to your bed

If you smoke cigarettes, you shouldn’t smoke in bed. Losing track of one smoldering butt can lead to some pretty serious consequences. There is a reason every mattress has that flammability warning tag.

Back it up

We know it’s cold. And you need that extra space heater running. Just be sure to keep all draperies, furniture, pets, and people at least three feet away from the heater in all directions.

Power up your smoke alarm

A smoke alarm should be replaced every ten years, and the battery yearly. Each alarm has a test button you can press to ensure that it is working properly, which should also be performed annually.

Check your cords

Thousands of fires each year can be attributed to faulty electrical cords. Check your cords for frays and cracks, replacing any that aren’t fit for use. 

When plugging cords into wall outlets, be sure not to overload the circuit. As a general rule of thumb, stick with one plug per outlet.