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By: Kathryn Hyer

Reducing the risk of a fire at your home should be a high priority. According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 1,345,500 fires were reported in the United States in 2015, causing $14.3 billion dollars of damages. Fires bring with them severe consequences and danger, including home fire damage, personal loss or injury, and more. If you would like to reduce the risk of a home fire, be sure to read our tips below!

Maintain Your Yard

Some areas are more prone to fires than others, such as yards. Areas which are at a higher risk for fires should be kept clear and free of dead trees, dead branches, dry weeds, or anything which would be likely to catch fire. To reduce risk of fire, do the following to your yard:

  • Trim dead branches
  • Remove dead Trees
  • Water grass regularly to avoid dead, dry grass

Kitchen Fire Prevention

Research shows firefighters in the United States respond to a fire emergency approximately every 23 seconds. Of these incidents, it has been found that kitchen fires are among the most common reasons for a fire to start. Simple precautions may be taken to avoid kitchen fires, such as the following:

  • Turn off oven(s) after use
  • Always attend oven(s) when in use
  • Never leave candles unattended
  • Avoid grease fires by keeping an eye on your stove top temperature

Space Heater Fire Prevention

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 300 deaths are caused each year by fires that began with a space heater. Despite the convenience and warmth they provide, space heaters may cause more grief than they’re worth if not handled properly. To prevent space heater fires, do the following:

  • Only place heaters on solid, flat surfaces
  • Don’t use an extension cord with a space heater
  • Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave a room
  • Ensure ample amount of space around the space heater
  • Purchase space heaters with an automatic shut-off feature, causing them to turn off automatically when tipped over

Chimney Fire Prevention

About 25,000 chimney fires go relatively undetected each year, making chimney maintenance a priority. Without it, chimneys create creosote buildup that will eventually lead to a fire. Here are some simple preventative measures you can take to avoid a chimney fire in your home:

  • Use an inexpensive creosote removal powder
  • Have your chimney inspected annually by a certified chimney sweep
  • Only burn dry wood. Wet wood creates more smoke, which causes more buildup

General Fire Prevention Tips

Preventative action should be taken in every home to avoid a house fire. The simplest measures can make all the difference between a safe home and a hazardous home. Here are some general fire prevention tips to avoid starting a fire in your home:

  • Install fire alarms throughout your home
  • Never leave candles unattended
  • Make sure cigarettes/matches are completely out before throwing in the trash
  • Have multiple fire extinguishers in your home, and educate all household members on their location

Don’t let your home become a danger zone, start protecting it now. Take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of your home and the people who live there by following the guidelines mentioned above. As always, Tobin Restoration is here for you when things go wrong. We specialize in restoring fire damaged areas and assist in restoring homes to their beautiful, original state. Hopefully it never comes to that, but give us a call at (208) 523-1080 for Idaho Falls fire restoration services! We wish you the best of luck in your fire prevention efforts!

Data Sources:

http://www.csia.org/chimneyfires.html

http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/printable-fact-sheets

http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fires-in-the-us

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