No one wants to think about a fire starting in their home.
The cautious homeowner will install smoke detectors and place a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink but there’s more to fire safety than those items.
Homeowners should have a detailed plan to not only prevent fires but also prepare for fires within the home. Fire safety begins by examining fire hazards throughout the home and planning escape routes from each and every room in the house.
Let’s evaluate a high-utilized room in any home – the laundry room.
Inspect the dryer to make sure there is no lint build-up inside the dryer or its exhaust duct and that the area behind the dryer is lint free.
Moving on to the garage, keep in mind that many items are stored in the garage but oily rags should not be kept close to heat sources. They should be kept in air-tight containers.
Inside the home, let’s spend some time in the kitchen. Homeowners should keep the stove clean of grease and food build-up. Towels, curtains, plastic utensils and potholders are stored away from the stove.
Snacks enjoyed by children, such as cookies, should not be stored above the store. A sneak attempt at a treat around a hot stove could be hazardous.
A great hazard, but appealing feature, is a fireplace. If you have a fireplace, make sure it has a screen, that the immediate area around it is free of clutter and flammable material, such as magazines.
While you’re fireproofing your fireplace, don’t neglect the chimney.
The chimney should be cleaned every year. It should also have fire-stop gypsum board at each floor penetration.
Exposed electric cords may be unsightly but you don’t want to place them under carpets or tape them against a wall. Check extension cords to make sure outlets aren’t overloaded.
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