How to Prevent House Fires and What to Do After a Fire

After a home fire can be devastating physically and emotionally. People can lose their lives, and people may be hurt, while your house and possessions can be destroyed. It's something that no family member should ever have to go through. However, it's a fact that there are an estimated 358,500 fires in homes each calendar year across the U.S. Most of these fires begin from the kitchen area, while others start in the bedroom, chimneys, and living rooms. Fires in the home are something we must all be vigilant to prevent, which is why we've provided some suggestions to lower the chance of being a victim of fire-related damage. If you encounter a fire in your home, We've laid out the initial actions you should do following the incident.

How to Prevent House Fires
You can take various steps to avoid a fire in your home by examining the heating source, making sure you keep your dryer's vents clean and correctly storing any flammable products for beauty or household use. There are three essential steps each homeowner and tenant must follow to minimize the destruction caused by fire.

Here's what you need to begin doing immediately: Test your smoke alarms regularly. Smoke alarms come with a button you can use to check they're functioning properly, which The U.S. Fire Administration recommends conducting every month. Set a reminder each month to your phone. When the alarm for smoke starts to sound, it's an indication to replace the batteries right away. Avoid leaving potential hazards unattended It can take only seconds for a fire to be lit, and that's why you must be vigilant in the event of fire dangers. Don't leave food that's being cooked on the stove, and never keep burning candles inside rooms that you aren't. Keep fire extinguishers handy If a fire should occur, it's a good idea to keep an extinguisher in the vicinity and readily available. Set it up near the kitchen (a popular spot for house fires), and then take the time to study the proper use to ensure you're ready in a situation in the event of an emergency. It is suggested to keep at the very least one fire extinguisher for each surface of your house, including the basement, attic, and garage. The number of fire extinguishers is contingent on the home area also. For instance, the NFPA Code states that there must be no over 75ft between extinguishers for fire.

3 Steps to Take After a Fire
If you're dealing with the unfortunate circumstance of a fire in your home, you're probably feeling overwhelmed and confused about what you should do. After you've spoken to the fire department and reliable restoration service like Elkhart Restoration, here are some things you can do following the fire:

Take a Moment to Check on Your Family
A fire in your home can be an incident that leaves the person involved suffering from post-traumatic stress for some time. This is why it's important to check in with any family members or friends that were present during the fire. Examining their mental and physical well-being is essential. Be sure to keep a check-in with yourself, too. Be sure to keep an eye on anyone affected by smoke exposure. Signs of smoke inhalation are hoarse voice, breathing difficulty, long coughing spells, and mental confusion. Anyone who has been who is exposed to fire must be examined by emergency medical personnel or transported to a local hospital. After you've assessed those directly affected through the tragedy, make contact with anyone in your family or friends who you can rely on for help. You're likely to require people to contact and count on to get through the process in this difficult time.

Contact Your Insurance Company
The next step is to get in touch with your insurance provider. You should provide them with an original copy of the report on the fire, which you can request from the fire department that was on the scene. Your homeowner's insurance has many years of experience in restoring your property following a fire or smoke damage. They'll be able to assist you through the process of insurance. If you require help in finding a temporary location to stay or need help in arranging your expenses for living, Your insurance company can help.

Determine the Extent of the Damage
​Once you've arranged for temporary accommodations and are settled, it's time to talk with the restoration company regarding the damages' severity. Smoke and fire damage can cause havoc to the structure of a house, causing issues that you may not notice at first. Fires can also cause serious structural damage, making it uninhabitable to enter your home. Smoke and soot from a burning fire can cause irreparable damage to your property. There could also be water damage caused by extinguishing the flames. Soft and hard furnishings can absorb harmful chemicals and smoke and should have professional cleaning. After a thorough cleaning and deodorizing agent, you can eliminate any smoke odors that remain. Using an antimicrobial chemical to disinfect and stop mold development could also be necessary. Most Restoration offices can provide this service in-house or outsource it to reputable suppliers. In many instances, homes are saved, and fire restoration may be initiated. Sometimes there is no other option than to tear the building down and rebuild it. Restoration 1 is in a position to determine precisely what work needs to be accomplished, present an accurate timeframe to complete repairs or restoration, and guide you throughout the process from beginning to end.