Follow These Steps to Reduce Your Risk of Fires | SERVPRO® of North Lilburn

6/3/2022 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged in a house fire, SERVPRO® of North Lilburn is here to help. Contact us for any fire restoration need.

Fire damage never stops in this country, and already this year, the American Red Cross has responded to more than 20,000 house fires, which is only a small portion of the total fires that have occurred in the country so far in 2022.

As always, smoke detectors are the main way to prevent extreme home damage or a loss of life, but there are many other measures that you’re able to take to protect yourself and your home. Some are more complex than others, but most involve a good cleaning:

Clear Out the Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most common places for home fires to begin. There are many reasons why this is the case, but taking your eyes off the food while cooking seems to be the leading cause.

Beyond that, having excessive clutter in the kitchen, including appliances and recipes or other flammable objects on the counter, poses an additional risk. The less cluttered your kitchen space is, the less likely that unexpected fires will occur.

Turning the cooking heat too high is another frequent source of fires in the home. This can cause food to burn more quickly and expel heat further from the intended location.

Ensure that you cook on the proper heat level with nothing that could catch fire in the vicinity to prevent these destructive eruptions.

Create a Defensible Space in Your Yard

When fires originate outside your home, your yard becomes the last line of defense. Taking steps to intentionally alter your landscape can protect the flames from spreading inside and will allow emergency services like the fire department to operate more efficiently should a disaster happen.

The dangers of fire damage have become so serious, that states like California are imposing defensible zone requirements that citizens must adhere to in their yards and property. These defensive maneuvers have been proven to be effective in slowing wildfires, so taking precautions like this may be the right move for you.

These landscaping techniques don’t prevent you from planting your beloved floral pieces and gardens—it instead takes those plants and recommends placing them in strategic locations that will prevent the spread of the fire. It’s also a good idea to remove any dead plants, leaves or flammable material, since these items will only fuel the flames and put your property at more risk.

Keep It Clean & Keep It Safe

Besides keeping a watchful eye on your kitchen while cooking and performing quality yard maintenance, a good spring-cleaning regimen can also limit the potential for fires. It’s important that you take adequate time every spring or summer to give your home appliances a deep-clean and dusting, along with inspecting the overlooked elements of your home like chimneys and fireplaces.

This may sound grueling, but reducing your risk of sustaining fire damage is actually a low effort. Simple tasks like dusting are easy ways to lower a fire’s ability to sprout. In particular, you should dust around appliances, outlets and anything that produces heat regularly.

In 2022, a home is much more than simply a roof over your head—it serves as a workspace for the adults, a play area for the children and a safe haven for the entire family. Putting in the effort to keep your home clean is one easy way to help stop fires in their tracks and prevent costly damages.

If you have experienced fire damage or want to learn more about our fire damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, ²⁴⁄₇.