With the dry Arizona summer approaching it’s time to address house fires and how to prevent them. The National Fire Protection Association reported that 42% of all house fires are caused by cooking utensils and that 17% of them are caused by issues related to heating and cooling. With 487,500 structure fires, causing 2,855 civilian deaths, 14,075 civilian injuries, and $9.5 billion in property damage in 2013 alone, it’s time we should do a safety check. These are the Ways to Enhance Your Fire-Preparedness.
Fire Safety Checklist
One of the easiest ways to keep yourself in check is to use a Fire Safety Checklist, don’t worry though, we’ve made one for you that you can print off and use. Let’s see how your house and you compare to our checklist and let’s keep you safe and ready for a fire. Fire Safety Checklist
Smoke Alarms
New homes are now all required by law and codes that they’re built with a connected alarm system, but that doesn’t mean it’s a smart alarm. With a Smart Alarm from Titan Alarm, the smoke detector is linked to your Titan Alarm home security system and thermostat and can actually turn off the air flow in your house if it sense a fire. With that in place it can stop the spread of smoke and fire and can actually help keep the fire contained.
Grill Smart
As the weather is heating up it’s becoming BBQ season, and who doesn’t love a good burger or dog straight off the grill. Before you fire up your grill be sure to inspect a few things. Make sure you inspect the hose, regulator and valves for any sort of signs of rusting, cracks, kinking or damage. You don’t want to put yourself at risk while you’re just trying to relax and cook on a nice summer day.
Fire Pit Safety
As the nights get nicer out the longer you’ll want to stay out, which means it’s time to start having bonfires! One of the biggest tips for fire pits we have is to make sure it’s at least ten feet away from any sort of structure. If your fire pit is a wood burning pit, make sure you use a fire screen. A fire screen can prevent any risks posed by flying embers and sparks.
Control Your Cables
Although the majority of fires in houses start in the kitchen, 6% of all fires are actually due to a result of electrical problems. Always use a surge protector when using multiple items at once. Make sure that your cables are always well kept and clean, keep them away from water sources and keep them fresh, any sort of wearing away at the protective housing should be fixed immediately, either with electrical tape or by replacing the cable altogether.
Fire Extinguisher
You always know where the fire extinguisher is for some reason, but no one ever thinks to purchase one because they’re always kind of just… there. Make sure you purchase one for your home, if you ever need to use it in the event of a fire, make sure you remember the acronym PASS: Pull the pin to release the handle; Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire; Squeeze the trigger; and Sweep the discharge stream at the base of the fire.
Mike Proudfit with Titan Alarm shares tips on fire safety. Did you know fire extinguishers should be replaced every few years and inspected annually or according to code based on your fire department?…
