How to Prevent and Handle a Fire

While a fire may seem like something that will never happen to you or your family, it is critical to know what to do if one does. Being knowledgeable on both preventing and on handling a fire could be the difference between life and death.

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Homeownership is rewarding, but, like any part of life, it comes with certain risks.

No one ever thinks that they will have a fire in their home. However, we're here to tell you that it's far better to be prepared than to just hope for the best.

House fires impact not only the people living there, but can pose a great risk to those in the surrounding vicinity as well. In fact, Matt recently had a close brush with just how damaging a fire can be when his neighbor's home was destroyed in one.

Luckily, the fire didn’t spread, and the family who lived there got out safely.

Fire safety is oftentimes about prevention, but it is also extremely important to know what to do if a fire happens. It was thanks to this knowledge that Matt’s neighbors were able to escape unharmed.

Some people, though, don’t make it out. I lost my uncle some years ago to a home fire.

House fires can be very dangerous. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help prevent or handle fires.

First, regardless of how new or old your home is, you should have multiple smoke detectors throughout the house and especially in the bedrooms. Remember to check that they are working once a month and to change the batteries once or twice each year.

Another tool that is helpful especially in the case of smaller fires, oftentimes in the kitchen, is a fire extinguisher. You can use this when the fire is small and manageable, but don’t hesitate to call the fire department in any circumstance worse than your personal extinguisher can handle.

Having a plan prior to needing one is perhaps the greatest tool of all when it comes to fire safety. Gather your family to talk about fire safety by going over where you will meet outside of the home in the event of a fire, as well as any other procedures you might follow to ensure a safe exit. Keeping collapsible ladders in upper stories of your home is a good idea that could save your life one day.

It is also extremely important to never re-enter your home during a fire once you have safely made it out.

If you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.