Happy Fourth of July! This is the perfect time to take a few minutes and learn about some ways to prepare for and prevent fire damage.
House Fires
You can prevent house fires in many ways. For example, use caution in the kitchen. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), cooking fires are the number one cause of house fires. Never leave cooking elements on unattended. Another easy solution is installing smoke alarms. Roughly three out of five deaths from home fires occur in homes without working smoke alarms or in homes that don't have smoke alarms at all. Find out about other ways to prevent house fires from the Red Cross or on the NFPA website.
Wildfires
Wildfires are a little harder to avoid than house fires, but you can still reduce their potential for damage. First, fireproof your home in whatever way you are capable of. New homes can often be built with materials or techniques that are fire resistant. For example, roofs with a steeper pitch are more resilient to floating embers that can ignite the roof. Building with materials like stone or brick can prevent a fire from starting or spreading. You can also use landscaping to protect your home, and the strategic spacing of shrubs and trees helps to reduce fuel for a wildfire. Finally, using gravel walkways and driveways can create a “fuel break,” which is an absence of fire fuel, giving your home even more protection. Learn more at Firewise.
Insurance Protection Against House and Wildfire
Do you know what your insurance covers? Homeowners insurance typically includes fire coverage, but you need to make sure you have enough and the right coverages in the event the unthinkable happens. Ask yourself if you and your family’s needs will be covered while you rebuild in the case of a fire. See our blog, 10 Things to Ask About Your Homeowners Insurance, to learn more.
Be safe when using fireworks and prevent fires by following these tips:
-Double check that fireworks are legal in your area.
-Keep a bucket of water, hose, or fire extinguisher nearby in case of any mishaps.
-Don’t try to relight fireworks that didn’t function correctly.
-Don’t throw any fireworks into a fire; whether they are “duds” or fresh, they could still explode and cause you or others harm.
-Don’t set off fireworks while holding them. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2014, 36% of injuries caused by fireworks were to the hands.
