What to Know if You Experience a House Fire

4/14/2021 (Permalink)

House fires are devastating. It’s important to do everything possible to keep your home and family safe and know what to do if you do grapple with a house fire. Here are a few key fire safety tips to keep in mind, and what you should expect afterward.

Make a point to inspect your home’s smoke detectors often.

Smoke detectors are critical to fire safety and should be installed in every bedroom and on every floor of your home. While many suggest annually changing the batteries in detectors, homeowners should also do a routine check to ensure they are operational, and replace them every ten years or as directed by the manufacturer. Whether they’re battery-operated or hard-wired, these more regular checkups can help keep your home safe.

Create a family fire escape plan. 

People can become inundated when a home fire breaks out. Creating an evacuation plan for the event of a house fire starting is a great way to ensure everyone in your household will know exactly what to do and can act efficiently if a fire breaks. Plan out your exit routes, meeting locations, and any special provisions your family members may need. Assign one person specific tasks such as gathering pets or contacting family members not in the home to make sure everyone is protected and communication stays consistent.

Don’t leave flames unattended. 

Since open flames are common in homes, many people forget the significant dangers they can pose. Whether it is from a cooktop or candle, a flame can spread to other surfaces in an instant, which is why it is critical to never leave any flame unattended for any length of time ever. Curious pets and children can easily cause a fire if left unattended. Always extinguish all flames when you’re not in the room. Always.

Putting out the flames can cause water damage

When a fire happens, it’s important to get the flames out quickly. Unfortunately, extinguishing flames can bring damage on its own. Firefighters whose sole purpose is to battle flames will do whatever it takes to stop the fire, which often includes an excessive amount of water. Though the fire gets extinguished, water damage is a real issue to be dealt with. Soaked furniture, carpeting and other belongings need professional attention. Along with soot and possible chemicals left behind by firefighters, water can be a huge problem. It’s important to work with professionals who understand not only fire damage remediation but water damage remediation to help you recover from the water left behind.

Failing to address water can lead to other issues

Homeowners may feel that water is the least of their worries but unfortunately, if the water left behind is not addressed properly and thoroughly, you may end up with mold and odor issues in addition to damaged property. SERVPRO professionals use special equipment to extract water thoroughly and then address any property damaged by water.

Be prepared should a fire break out

No one wants to contemplate the possibility of a fire, let alone the damage caused by the water used to extinguish the flames, but you need to have a plan on what to do if a fire breaks out and how to handle the aftermath. In addition to all that’s mentioned above, think about what you’ll need to do once the fire is extinguished and you’re facing water damage in addition to fire damage. It’s important to contact a water remediation company to assist with the damage left behind from extinguishing smoke and flames. SERVPRO of Central Phoenix has a staff of trained professionals to assist you in this time of need. We’re available 24/7 to help you recover. Call us if you experience any kind of disaster at 602-386-4268.