Prevent Indoor Fires This Fall

Fire safety is always important no matter what time of year it is. However, if there is ever a season to brush up on fire safety tips, it’s fall. As daylight hours decrease and temperatures do the same, autumn means life moves inside, which can increase indoor fire risks.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking equipment is the top cause of home structure fires and related injuries, while heating equipment comes in second among home fire fatalities. While you can’t put a price on injuries and fatalities, NFPA statistics show the cost of direct fire damage to a residential property is $5.7 billion, as of 2016.

Indoor Fall Fire Prevention

Preventing fire inside your home may seem like common sense, but overlook any of the following steps and your property, as well as your family and possessions in it, could be at risk.

• Fall back on new batteries. 

  Let clock changes of Daylight Saving Time serve as important reminders to replace your batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

  

• Keep your cool in the kitchen.

  Reduce cooking-related fires by…

  • never leaving an open flame or in-use cooking appliance unattended.
  • moving flammable items out of harm’s way.
  • keeping children and pets free of the cooking area.
  • staying attentive when cooking is in progress. 

• Stock up on safety items.

  Should a fire happen, the best way to prevent its spread is to extinguish it quickly. Supply your home with working fire extinguishers and make sure you and everyone in your home knows when and how to use it.

• Power up electrical safety. 

  Inspect the appliances and electrical system in your home and repair or replace any damaged or frayed cords. Also, work with a skilled, trained electrician to make sure outlets and in-home electric is safe and up to code.

  

• Make maintenance top priority.

Heating elements, be them space heaters, central heating, or fireplaces, can be a dangerous fire source. Keep them clean and maintained regularly to reduce the risks. Also, always be sure to follow manufacturer operating recommendations to avoid problems in the future.

• Decorate with care.

The fall season is filled with holidays that require decking the halls, but those decorations can come with their own fire risks, due to faulty wires and overloaded electrical sockets. Be smart when adorning your abode and don’t let form win out over function.

Should a fire occur with flames you can’t contain, leave the property and immediately call 911. Your local emergency professionals are better equipped to respond to the fire and minimize damage. If restoration services are needed to repair your space, remove smoke odors, or return your home to its pre-existing condition, our trained restoration technicians are standing by to respond and help.

Emergency Fire and Water Restoration

A&J Property Restoration is proud to provide 24/7 emergency fire damage restoration for homes, businesses, and commercial buildings. Our teams are ready to help restore your property in Madison, Portage, Milwaukee, WI Dells, Fort Atkinson, Waukesha, and surrounding Dane County Wisconsin areas.