Tips to Reduce Risk of Fire in Your Indianapolis Home

10/16/2016 (Permalink)

Reduce Risk of Fire In Your Indianapolis Home

October is recognized as Fire Prevention Month. As part of Fire Prevention Month, SERVPRO of Indianapolis West would like to offer helpful tips to reduce fire risk at your home.

Home Fire Statistics

According to fire experts, families has as little as 2 minutes to escape a house fire while most families mistakenly believe that have at least 5 minutes or more to escape a house fire. That is why it is so important to exit the house quickly once a fire has been realized.

Only 69% of parents believe their children know what to do or how to escape if a house fire occurs. Less than half of all parents with young children have talked to their families about fire safety and over 70% have not identified a safe place to meet outside the home in case of a fire. Over 80% of families have never practiced home fire drills.

As you can see, the statistics are alarming but by taking a little time this month, more families can be prepared in case of a house fire. By talking with your kids about fire safety, where to meet in case of a fire, and how to escape when a fire occurs; you can greatly increase the chances of surviving a fire.

Home Fire Safety Checklist

1. Create an Escape Plan & Practice

Work with your family to create an escape plan in case of a fire. Practice your escape plan with your children. Also, plan alternative escape plans in case the fire is blocking an escape. Be sure to practice a fire drill with your family and check your escape time.

2. Check Smoke Alarms

Take a few minutes to test all of your fire alarms. Make sure they all are properly working and have batteries. Most smoke alarms have a test button that you can depress to test if it works properly. Also, if you have carbon monoxide detectors, be sure to check them too. Change the batteries in your smoke alarms every year unless they are a long-life battery. It's also a good idea to test the alarms once a month.

3. Check Fireplaces, Space Heaters, and Baseboard Heaters

With the colder months approaching, you'll most likely be using your fireplace or heaters to warm your home. If you use space heaters, make sure to place them away from anything that could be flammable like curtains, blankets or furniture. This goes for fireplaces and baseboard heaters too. Experts say that a heat source should be at least 3 feet away from the heat source.

4. Be Safe in the Kitchen

Kitchen fires are one of the most common fires in homes. To reduce the risk of fire, never leave anything cooking or baking unsupervised. When frying, grilling or cooking on an open flame, keep dish rags and other flammable materials away from the burners. If you are cooking with oil, be careful not to splash or spill the oil near the burners as it can quickly flame up. It's also advisable to have a working fire extinguisher located in your kitchen in case of a small fire.

5. Be Smart and Be Prepared

By following these tips, you can reduce the risk of fire in your family's home. If a fire does occur, you can greatly increase the risk that your whole family escapes safely by planning an escape and practicing fire drills on a regular basis. This October during Fire Prevention Month, ensure your home and family are safe and are prepared in case of a house fire.

If you should suffer a house fire, call the fire cleanup experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis West at 317-243-3149 for 24-hour emergency service. At SERVPRO of Indianapolis West, we have specialized equipment, professional training, and certifications that allow us to restore your home to its pre-fire condition.