Unfortunately, residential fires are probably more common than you think. In 2019, there were over 5,000 structure fires in Colorado according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
Your home is where you build your life, take care of your family, and create/hold some of the best memories. It’s scary to imagine your home being one of the 5,000 fires in Colorado per year. Although you can’t prevent everything, there are things you can do to lower your risk of a house fire or smoke damage. Here are some ways to reduce your chances of experiencing a house fire in Denver or Colorado Springs:
Don’t Leave Things Cooking Unattended
While you’re waiting for your oven to heat up or water to boil on the stove, you may think you can sneak away for a few seconds to walk the dog or do another errand around the house. FH Water Restoration is here to tell you that leaving the kitchen area while cooking isn’t the wisest thing to do. It doesn’t take long for a fire to break out - literally a matter of seconds. If you have to leave the kitchen, see if someone else can come in and watch what is cooking.
Get a Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher is one of the best defenses against a fire that breaks out in your home. It is smart to buy one and keep it in one of the more “at risk” rooms in your home. For instance, the kitchen pantry or laundry room.
Be Careful with Candles
Let’s face it, everyone loves a scented candle or two… or three or four. The reality is though that scented candles do have the capability of starting a fire. Take extra precautions with candles by making sure they are blown out before you leave a room and before you go to bed. In addition, make sure to keep them on an even surface that won’t be moved/tilted and high enough from the reach of any pets you have.
Check on Your Dryer
It isn’t uncommon to have a house fire start from your laundry room/dryer. Not only does it need to be inspected at least on a yearly basis, the lint trap also needs to be kept clean. After every load of laundry, it’s smart to fully empty the lint trap. You also want to make sure nothing has fallen or gotten trapped behind the dryer such as lint or a sock.
Test Your Smoke Alarms
If you’re sleeping or not in the room a fire has started in, your fire alarm may be your first alert of a fire. Because of this, it’s smart to test your fire alarms on a regular basis to ensure they work should a tragedy happen.
Check Your Heating Sources
If your heating sources malfunction or aren’t working properly, they could be a fire hazard. It is smart to check them on a yearly basis, just like your dryer. When checking them, you want to make sure they are functioning properly and that the air filters are cleared out. A fire can start easily from debri and dust being trapped too close to a heat source.
Just like you can help prevent wildfires and forest fires, you can also help prevent your own house fire. FH Water Restoration recommends the above tips as a basic starting point for avoiding a future risk of residential fire. Your home is your sanctuary and holds the best memories, and we want to help you keep it that way.
Although we don’t wish a tragic fire loss on anyone, FH Water Restoration is ready to help you get back to normal should you experience a fire in Denver or Colorado Springs. Make us your first call and we will help take the stress of a fire loss of your shoulders.
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