How to Prevent House Fires

Over 30 percent of house fires occur between the months of December and February. In the month of October as we gear up for holiday season, it’s a good time to check your home, making sure that it’s fireproof. It’s important that you talk with your family about these fire safety tips so that when the hustle and bustle of the holidays comes around, it’s one less thing you’ll need to stress about.

5 Tips to Prevent House Fires:

1. Keep flammable items away from any heat source! This is a hazard as objects such as aerosol cans are extremely flammable. If something draws heat, it is a hazard!
2. Check smoke detectors and fire alarms often! These are used to alarm you as soon as a fire breaks out. Not only can it be a lifesaver to your family but it can prevent a complete loss of your home/property. Make sure the batteries are new and it’s working properly.
3. Keep your dryer vents clean! This is something small but important. Before you start a new dryer cycle, clean out the lint from the trap, even if there isn’t much there. The lint can build up quickly on the outside of your dryer which can lead to a fire. It’s also a good idea to not leave your dryer running while you’re away from home.
4. Make sure you have no frayed wiring or overloaded outlets! You can purchase outlet strips to help spread out the plugs; however, even those need to be changed out every few years. When Christmas time rolls around, inspect your lights for broken or missing bulbs. Make sure they are all working properly before putting them to use around your home. Also, remember to turn your Christmas tree lights and exterior lights off while your’e not home and once you go to bed. You can invest in a timer, if you are worried about forgetting to turn them off!
5. It’s been a year or so since you last used your heat sources around your home. Heating units like heat towers/floor heaters, gas fireplaces, heat blankets, etc are the cause of many house fires. Have your fireplace serviced before using it and examine your other household items for proper functioning before putting them to use. Make sure that yours is ready to go as cooler weather approaches.

Remember, you can replace property, but you cannot replace a life. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, an average of seven people die in the United States from house fires per day. Here at TSL, we urge you to get in touch with us if you have any more questions about fire safety. Your family is our family and we want to work with all of you to lower the rate of house fires.