Know How to Stop a Fire Before It Happens

Homes are a huge investment, and like any big investment, you want to protect it. Although it's unpleasant to think about disasters happening, the best prevention is to talk about possibilities and how to make sure they won't occur. The week of October 9th is the National Fire Protection Agency's (NFPA) fire prevention week, which makes it an ideal time to talk about ways to prevent a fire from happening in your home. This year's theme is, "Don't Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years,"and smoke alarms are the perfect place to implement your household's fire safety plan.

The Importance of Smoke Alarms

According to Preventfire.com, 60 percent of the 2,500 deaths that occur each year due to fires in the home happen in a house without a working smoke alarm, or no smoke alarm at all. Start by installing smoke alarms if you don't have them. Pick a date each year to go around and test your alarms, and mark the date they were installed with a Sharpie so you know when it's time to replace them. Smoke alarms are crucial for a couple reasons:

• They alert people to get out
• They allow people to call 911 faster

Other Fire Prevention and Safety Measures for your House

1.  Use Caution When Cooking: People cook daily. That being said--it's essential that they take care while doing so. When working with a stove or oven, make sure there's nothing near that can catch fire; like paper towels, napkins, or fabrics. Take extra precautions when working with hot grease. Have a fire extinguisher nearby to use if necessary. Also, remember to turn off appliances after use.

2.  Candles and Cigarettes: Unattended candles and smoking inside your home are two large sources of house fires. People fall asleep; children and pets knock things over. If you decide to do either of these things inside your home, prepare to be very aware of putting them out correctly, and monitoring them while they're in use.

3.  Clean Heating Sources and Make Sure They're in Properly Ventilated Places: Your fireplace, a blocked chimney, space heaters, and other heating sources can be sources of fires when not maintained or placed in a safe space. Take time each year to schedule maintenance for furnaces, gas and wood-burning stoves, and also never put a space heater in a cluttered, poorly ventilated spot.

4.  Cords, Appliances, and Other Electrical Equipment: Frayed cords, blocked dryer vents, old electrical equipment, and faulty wiring are all potential sources for fires. It's beneficial to conduct a house check each year of your electrical items. Get rid of anything that poses a hazard and always have a professional fix, maintain, or replace your home's electrical system.

5.  Keep Kids Away: Kids are curious by nature and will happily explore fire starters, and even fires themselves. The best prevention is to educate, or if they're too young, to store thing safely or block them off. Investing in your children's safety isn't always convenient, but can save you, your family, and your home.

Stay Up-to-Date on Fire Safety

At Wright-Patt Realty, we want our clients and their homes to stay safe. The best way to keep on top of fire safety is to take time every so often to look at the things you should be doing. Several websites are dedicated to providing tips for fire safety and prevention, including the National Fire Protection Agency's website. Be prepared for emergencies before they happen is a great way to stop them.

Contact Wright-Patt Realty, Inc. for first-class real estate services when you're ready to buy and sell homes in and around the Wright-Patterson Afb real estate area.