Most Think They Are House-Fire Prepared, But Are They?

4/5/2022 (Permalink)

You have read about house fires, and if you are safety prepared you have a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors in your home, but do you have a plan?
House fires can happen for many reasons, but each one starts incredibly small…like the burning of a tea candle, or a spark from faulty wiring, or a toaster oven overheating, or (the most common) cooking fire from unattended food on the stove.
If something as small a spark can destroy an entire home, you would think we as homeowners and renters would be more prepared for it. But the sad truth is, less than half of the 80% of the US population who believes they are prepared and know what to do in the case of a fire…don’t have a plan in place if an actual fire happens.
In order to have a plan in place you should ask yourself and your family members these questions:
Do you know where the fire extinguisher is?
Do you know how to operate the fire extinguisher?
Do you know what exit points we have in the house depending on where the fire is located?
Where are we meeting outside? (By the big oak tree, by the mailbox, next to the tulip bed, etc)
Do you know what to do if a fire starts and your Mom/Dad and I are not here? (For older kids)
Do you know the hazardous ways that fires most often happen in homes?
Getting out of the house and to a safe place is always the first priority!
In case you are curious, here are the top reasons house fires start:
1: Appliances & Equipment (stoves, curling irons, cooking devices, etc)
2: Candles (proof you should never leave a burning candle unattended)
3: Holiday Decorations (we all love the twinkling of Christmas lights, just make sure to water your tree!)
4: Electrical Systems and Devices (old or shoddy electrical work, as well as loose wires are dangerous)
5: Smoking (more specifically negligent smoking)
For more information you can visit this Red Cross webpage: Prepare For House Fires