3 Actions To Take After a House Fire

8/25/2022 (Permalink)

The aftermath of a fire in your Crosby, TX, home is often difficult to face.

Fire Restoration Process

After a fire sweeps through your Crosby, TX home, the cleanup process can seem insurmountable. With belongings to salvage and sort, damage to catalog and smoke and soot to clean up, you may not know where to begin. However, there are a few steps you can take to begin the fire restoration process, and they may give you peace of mind as you attempt to recover from ablaze.

1. Contact Your Insurance Company

Once the fire is completely extinguished and you are certain everyone is safe, put in a call to your insurance company as soon as possible. Filing a claim with your fire insurance agent within 24 hours of the incident might help him or her process it with more efficiency. This could mean a quicker payout to help cover the cost of repairs and smoke cleaning.

2. Avoid Disturbing Affected Rooms

While you may want to enter fire-damaged rooms to retrieve certain items, doing so isn’t always safe and could compromise any type of inspection your insurance adjuster performs. If possible, tape off any affected areas and do not let any family members enter. You’ll likely be anxious to start the fire restoration process; however, waiting for insurance and cleanup professionals to arrive first may help the process go more smoothly.

3. Call in Fire Cleanup Experts

The mess left behind after a fire is sometimes considerable, so calling in a company that specializes in smoke cleaning and restoration can be an effective step in recovery. Cleanup technicians who are trained in this area can bring in air scrubbing and fogging machines to remove soot and smoke from your carpeting, walls and ceiling. They may also be able to advise you about photo and document recovery and restoration as well.

The aftermath of a fire in your Crosby, TX, home is often difficult to face. However, knowing which steps to take right away can streamline the fire restoration process and allow you to recover quickly.

4 Important Reasons To Board Up Your Home After a Fire

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

It is important to board up your home after a fire.

Board Up Your Home After a Fire

If you've recently suffered damage to your Harmaston, TX, home after a fire, you may feel overwhelmed and want to walk away. It's crucial to board up your home, however, to protect your property from further loss and expense. Here are four significant reasons to do this.

1. Prevent Your Home From Becoming a Risk to Others After Fire Damage
Even areas that look safe could have hidden dangers, such as load-bearing walls that might collapse or electrical hazards. There could also be harmful particles that are dangerous to breathe. It's vital to have restoration professionals do an emergency board up to protect you and others.
You may not want to go back into your home, but others might find the temptation too alluring, especially children and teens. If they enter your home and wind up injured, you could be sued. Protect yourself from liability by boarding up your home.

2. Protect Your Home From Vandals
Teens aren't the only ones trying to get into your home. Thieves and vandals want in as well and could steal everything from fixtures to electronics. They can also gain access to your personal information, putting your privacy at risk. Thieves will take anything they think they can sell, so protecting your home is crucial.

3. Shield Your Home From the Elements
If you have a hole in your roof or an opening in your wall, wind and rain can get in, along with animals and even the homeless looking for free shelter. They can cause further damage and increase your repair bill, so take the time to board up your home.

4. Safeguard Yourself from Losing Insurance Coverage
Your insurance company expects you to take reasonable measures to prevent further deterioration of the building. That means boarding up openings and laying tarps where needed.
With the help of professionals to board up your dwelling, you can protect your home from further damage.

Responsibility After a Rental Property Fire

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

Apartment fire in Atascocita, TX.

After a Rental Property Fire, Who Is Responsible?

After a rental property fire, there is sometimes confusion about who is responsible for paying the cost of damages. Each situation is unique, but there are some underlying factors that help determine responsibility.

1. Who Caused the Apartment Fire?
If it has been determined that a tenant caused the fire, they are responsible for paying the landlord for many of the building's repair costs. If the fire was not caused by a tenant, the landlord's insurance policy will cover the renovation costs of the building structure. In this scenario, tenants may opt for terminating their lease if the property is totally destroyed.
In some instances, tenants have the ability to end their lease ahead of time even if the building isn't completely ruined. The landlord may agree instead to cover the cost of a temporary relocation until the building has been renovated after an apartment fire.

2. What Insurance Coverage Has Been Obtained?
Landlords in Atascocita, TX, must purchase a landlord insurance policy to pay for fire damage to the building. This insurance typically covers such things as:

• The building structure itself
  
• Any property that is stored for contractors, such as equipment and materials
  
• Appliances and furniture supplied by the landlord
  
  

Unfortunately, the landlord's insurance policy will not cover any possessions lost by the tenants during an apartment fire. This makes it essential for your tenants to work with their insurance agent to purchase a renter's insurance policy ahead of time. It is also a good idea to require tenants to obtain this insurance before the lease is signed, or at the very least to sign a statement showing they understand the rules. This will help to alleviate any potential problems down the road.
In addition, it's a good idea to research fire restoration services ahead of time so that renovations can begin as soon as possible.
Protect your investment during a devastating fire with a comprehensive insurance policy.

3 Things To Look for in Your Chosen Restoration Company

3/25/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke cleanup in a school in Baytown, TX.

Three Qualities to Look for in a Restoration Company

When preparing an emergency plan you may want to choose a fire damage restoration service in Baytown, TX, for your business as knowing who to contact can help you save time in the event that a fire does occur. However, you may be wondering how to select the best company for your needs. There are several things you may wish to consider when choosing the restoration company you wish to work with.

They Offer a Variety of Services

In many cases, you may want to choose a restoration company that can offer a variety of services. This will allow them to make any repairs associated with the fire damage including

• Smoke cleanup
  
• Soot clean up
  
• Flood water cleanup
  
• Water damage assessment
  
• Mold remediation
  
• Item restoration
  
• Working with your insurance
  
  

They Can Respond Quickly

A professional fire damage restoration service should have the ability to respond quickly as well. This is important as repairs may get in the way of conducting business, and you may want to get everything operational as quickly as possible after a fire. When you contact your chosen service they should be able to get a professional out to you to assess the damage quickly, and then prepare a repair schedule based on the damage type and severity.

They Can Handle Large Jobs

One aspect that may be important for many companies when looking at commercial fire restoration service, is the ability to handle a variety is job sizes. Choosing a company that can do large-scale work often means that in a worst-case scenario they have access to any equipment that may be necessary. It also means that they may be able to handle any job size in between as well.
When choosing the right fire damage restoration team for your business's needs consider the following. What types of services they offer, how quickly they can respond to a disaster, and what size jobs they can handle. Knowing these things beforehand will give you a reliable company you can contact in the event that a fire does break out at your business.

Proper Care and Cleaning of Your Gas Range

2/14/2022 (Permalink)

It is important to keep your gas range clean.

Why Range Cleaning and Maintenance Are Important

A new gas range that is sparkling clean and working well is a joy to cook on. You wipe away every crumb and spill immediately and keep it looking pristine. As the novelty wears off and life happens, you may not worry so much about a spill or two. Things begin to bake onto the surface and accumulated gunk and goo no longer bother you as much. But there are some simple ways to restore your beautiful oven and some good reasons why range cleaning and maintenance are important.

Five Tips for Cleaning Your Range Top

1. Make a mixture of half hot water and half white vinegar. Spray all surfaces, one area at a time and let it sit to soften the dirt.

2. Using a stiff toothbrush, scrub away all grease and buildup. You can scrape gently with a plastic knife if needed, then wipe clean.

3. Remove the burner caps and heads. Wash them in the vinegar mixture and clean the grooves with a pin or toothpick. Dry thoroughly.

4. Wipe everything down one last time and replace burner heads and caps and cooking grates.
5. Wipe things down after each use to maintain a fresh, clean appearance for your gas range.

Why Range Cleaning is Important

Besides looking great and being a more inviting cooking surface, a clean range top can keep the burner heads working properly. Food and spills can build up in the cutout grooves, blocking the flow of gas, creating hot spots or making it unsafe to operate. Burning food near the burner head could also produce an unpleasant smoke smell that can get into everything in your house. If this happens, be sure to get help from odor removal specialists in Timberlane Acres, TX, to clean your home of both the smell and the residue that causes it.

You won’t have to spend your time wishing for a new gas range when yours is sparkling clean and in good order. You can just enjoy what it was made for – giving enjoyment and nourishment to your family.

Stay Safe in the Kitchen This Holiday

12/15/2021 (Permalink)

Test your smoke alarms before the holidays.

Did you know that the winter holidays are the times when most home cooking fires happen? It’s popular to celebrate the holidays with family and feast, but the additional chaos brings more opportunities for accidents. Give the firefighters in Humble, TX, a break, and make some plans to keep your family safe from fire damage this holiday season.

Top Ten Holiday Kitchen Tips for Fire Safety

Additional people and extra cooking mean you have more risk than normal, so it’s a good time to make sure you are extra careful in the kitchen. Take some time before everyone arrives to prepare the kitchen for holiday safety. Here are some kitchen tips for before and during the holidays:

1. Test your smoke alarms before the holidays.

2. Clean your stove and oven to reduce grease buildup.

3. Keep kids and pets out of the cooking area, using a physical barrier if necessary.

4. Cook only when you are alert. Falling asleep with food on the stove is a common way fires start.

5. Don’t leave the stove unattended while cooking.

6. Plan to be home as long as it takes to cook your turkey or other large items.

7. Keep clutter off the kitchen floor so you have plenty of room to move around the cooking area.

8. Ensure that cords are not hanging where they might be snagged by someone walking by or grabbed by children.

9. Keep flammable items away from the stove. Make sure your guests aren’t using the stove as a landing pad for food packages, paper towels or oven mitts.

10. Don't put out a grease fire with water. Use a lid and turn off the heat.

You can really help reduce risks and keep your family safe by following these simple tips. Most of this advice comes down to staying alert in the kitchen.

If you need help to clean up after a fire, count on a fire damage specialist to get you through it. Unlike most contractors, these professionals deal specifically with fire recovery and can guide you through cleanup, repairs, and care for your personal belongings.

Help — I Smell Gas!

10/26/2021 (Permalink)

Kitchen fire in Houston, TX.

A gas fire is one of the most terrifying experiences a homeowner can face. Avoiding this tragedy starts with knowing what to do when you smell natural gas. Your safety is the number one concern, and there are a few simple rules that will help you and your loved ones remain safe.

What To Do If You Smell Gas

• For your safety and the safety of your family, evacuate immediately.
• Do not touch appliances, thermostats or anything with an electrical switch. Any spark, even from static electricity, can trigger a gas explosion.
• Do not light a flame.
• Do not bother to open the windows. Some guides recommend that you do that to vent gas, but remember, houses have gas and oil hot water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners that turn themselves on automatically. Any one of these could easily generate a spark and start a gas fire.
• Once you are in a safe location outside the home, call 911 or Houston, TX, emergency services and report the emergency.

What Happens Afterwards

Usually, these situations have a happy ending. The utility company safely shuts off the gas, the fire department vents the house, the source of the leak is identified, and the repairs are made. Of course, for the next six months, you can expect to occasionally hear the question “Do you smell gas?” but that is to be expected after such a traumatic experience.

Other times, however, the crisis ends badly. A gas fire, like any other fire, is a life-changing event. Things cannot get back to normal until the fire and water damage are addressed. Insurance is a part of the solution but the key to making it a home again is to bring in the best restoration specialists available in Houston, TX. This allows you to put this experience behind you so that you and your family can return to leading normal lives as quickly as possible.

How To Prevent Grill Fires

7/29/2021 (Permalink)

Grill maintenance is essential for avoiding structural fires caused by your grill.

How To Avoid Grilling Fires

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 9,600 home fires are started from grills each year. The leading cause of those grill fires was that the grills had not been properly cleaned. It doesn't matter if your grill is gas, charcoal or a smoker, all grills need cleaned just as you already clean your stovetop in Atascocita,TX to prevent a grease fire. Take this fire safety precaution and learn the art of grill cleaning. Here is how:

Turn off gas. Close the valve and move the propane tank away from the area. Begin grill cleaning when the grill has cooled to just warm.

Wipe the outside. Just use soapy water and a cotton cloth.

Clean cooking grates. When cool enough to touch, start brushing the bars with a wire brush, then remove them and place in soapy water.

Empty the catch pan. For gas grills, empty the drip pan. For charcoal grills, you simply lift the charcoal grate and rotate the bottom mechanism to dump ash into the catch pan. Empty the ash catch pan. If ash is still hot, store in a metal covered pail.

Clean the cook box of the grill. Grill cleaning the interior of a gas grill includes burner tubes and heat deflectors. For either grill, you can scrape carbon and grease build-up from the interior of the grill with a wire brush and scrub with soapy water.

Reassemble your grill and enjoy safe use. Keep the grill a safe distance from the house when in operation and never leave the grill unattended while food is cooking.

Another important fire safety precaution is to keep children away from grills. Declare a three-foot area around the grill to be a no-kid zone and stay in the area. Proper grill maintenance is the key to preventing structure fires from your grill. If you do have fire damage, at least you can trust restoration specialists to help assess and restore your property to its pre-fire conditions.

5 Ways To Avoid Cigarette Fires in Your Home

7/2/2021 (Permalink)

Smoking outside is one of the easiest things you can do.

Avoid a Cigarette Fire In Your Home

There are many reasons to give up smoking. From health concerns to requiring constant house odor removal, cigarettes cause a lot of problems. Another concern is that smoking greatly increases the chances of a fire breaking out in your home in Kingwood, TX. A cigarette fire can start relatively easily, so if you or someone in your household smokes, follow these safety precautions.

1. Smoke Outside

Smoking outside is one of the easiest things you can do. This also prevents the tobacco smell from circulating throughout your abode. There are many things inside a house that can catch fire, so keeping all cigarettes outdoors is an easy solution to avoid needing fire cleanup.

2. Avoid Smoking While Drowsy

If you do smoke inside the house, then you should avoid doing so when tired. Smoking should never take place on the bed because the cigarette can fall and make the bedding catch fire.

3. Clean Ashtrays Regularly

An ashtray fire can break out if you leave lit cigarettes behind. In the event the ashtray fills up too much, then the hot ash can fall over the edge and increase the chances of a cigarette fire breaking out.

4. Avoid Smoking While Drinking Alcohol or Taking Medication

You may feel a little loopy when taking other substances. When you are disoriented, it is easy to lose track of where you left your cigarettes.

5. Keep Cigarettes Out of Children’s Reach

This should go without saying, but you always want to keep cigarettes in an area where children cannot get them. Even if your children do not smoke them, they may still drop a lit cigarette and cause a fire.

With all this being said, the easiest way to avoid a cigarette fire is to give up smoking entirely. Giving up tobacco will be advantageous for your health, and you can rest a little easier at night.

How To Get Rid of Stubborn Smoke Smells

4/8/2021 (Permalink)

Kitchen fire damage in a Kingwood, TX home.

Follow These Tips To Do It Right

Whether from a fire or from a bad cigarette habit, smoke cleaning can be difficult and frustrating. No matter how hard you scrub, the smell seems to linger in your Kingwood, TX, home and you feel as if your space will never be the same. Here are some steps that may help you get a good start on it before you reach out to a professional odor elimination specialist.

Determine the Source
There are a variety of reasons you may have a stubborn smoke odor in your home. Determining the source will help you decide the best route to get it cleared out. The smell may come from fire damage, years of indoor cigarette smoking, or even from outdoor wildfires near your home. The smell will leach into fabrics and any porous surface in your home, including furniture, clothing, dishes, floors and walls.

Neutralize With Vinegar
The strong smell of smoke damage can be neutralized with vinegar. Begin by placing several small bowls around the area where the odor is strongest. These will begin to absorb the noxious fumes and reduce the smell. You can also boil some vinegar on the stove to speed up the process, allowing it to simmer for an hour or two.

Clean, Clean, Clean
Smoke cleaning will also require you to remove and thoroughly scrub anything that was within the damaged area. All clothing, furniture cushions, or other fabric items should be washed. You'll also need to clean wall hangings and hard surfaces. Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and allow it to sit for a while before vacuuming up.

Use Ammonia
The most stubborn smells may require an ammonia treatment to fully destroy them. You can add some to the laundry when washing clothing, bedding and other fabrics. The stronger smell will be more unpleasant than vinegar, but you can also place bowls of ammonia throughout the home to absorb smoke smells.
Smoke cleaning takes a lot of work, but the time invested is worth it if you can eliminate the smell. 

Ways To Prevent a Business Fire

12/17/2020 (Permalink)

Make sure every floor of the building has multi-purpose fire extinguishers

Fire Prevention Techniques

A business fire can destroy valuable assets in your Porter, TX, building. While fire damage cleanup professionals can restore the property, the process could take weeks. You could miss out on customers or lose profits during that time.
You thus should do everything you can to protect your building from a fire. Below are some fire prevention techniques every business owner should follow.

1. Keep Proper Equipment on the Premises
If a fire does break out in your building, it needs to be extinguished as soon as possible. Automatic sprinklers should stop the flames before they engulf your entire property.
Still, you do not want to rely on the sprinklers alone. Make sure every floor of the building has multi-purpose fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. Your employees should know where the extinguishers are and how to use them.
Provide each of your workers with an emergency kit, as well. It should include necessities such as water, a mask and a flashlight.

2. Use Electronics Safely
Electronics are essential to your business. Unfortunately, they can also spark massive blazes. Utilizing electronics properly is thus an essential part of fire prevention.
Avoid using too many wires in one outlet. If you opt for power strips, make sure you do not go over the recommended wattage. Any broken or frayed cords should be replaced, as well. Finally, keep any appliances away from combustible items such as cloth or paper.

3. Assess Your Risk
Different buildings have different fire hazards. Read the National Fire Protection Safety handbook to make sure you are meeting all the requisite codes for your property. You can even ask a local fire marshal to inspect the premises and point out possible problems. This will allow you to address those issues before they cause a fire.
These fire prevention strategies should reduce the chances of a blaze overwhelming your building. Your employees will be safe, and your business can continue running.

Choosing the Right Fire Coverage for Your Small Business

10/26/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage in Timberlane Acres, TX

Choosing the Right Fire Coverage for Your Small Business

Fire can be devastating to a small business. Between the damage and loss of equipment or inventory, it can very easily drive you into bankruptcy. Fortunately, fire insurance can mitigate your losses and prevent your business from closing its doors permanently. This insurance is usually included in your business insurance, but you want to make sure you have all of the right coverages.

Loss of Equipment and Inventory
Your insurance should replace your equipment and inventory if it is damaged by the fire or by firefighters putting out the fire. Smoke and water are both devastating to anything inside the building as it burns. Even if the fire does not touch the products or equipment, smoke cleanup will be necessary to salvage your items.

Restoration After a Fire
When you have a fire, it may be difficult or dangerous to fix the damage yourself. In this case, a fire restoration company can help. All you have to do is call a fire remediation company in your Timberlane Acres, TX.

Business Interruption
Business interruption is not always a part of your fire insurance policy. It covers you when you cannot do business after a fire, hurricane or pandemic. It covers wages, utilities, and mortgages or rent when an event beyond your control happens.

Relocation
Some fire policies cover temporary or permanent relocation so that you can get back up and running as quickly as possible. It may also pay off your lease or pay a new lease, depending on your benefits.

Replacement Cost
If possible, you will want a policy that covers replacement costs rather than cash value. Replacement cost is what it will cost to replace inventory, equipment and buildings today. Cash value is simply the value of the property. In many cases, the cash value is significantly less than the replacement cost.
Fire doesn't have to be devastating with the right insurance. Make sure your fire insurance covers everything you need it to when you purchase the policy. This insurance will help you rebuild your business.

How Lightning Starts a Fire and How To Evaluate the Damage

9/16/2020 (Permalink)

Lightning in Atascocita, TX

How To Handle A Lightning Fire

Thunderclouds are a happy sight when the summer heat becomes unbearable. However, sitting on your porch swing in Atascocita, TX, and watching bolts flash across the sky, have you considered what would happen if one struck your home? A lightning fire is something that every homeowner should understand and know how to handle.

Striking the House
Lightning has one goal — to get to the ground as easily as possible. It doesn’t need any help, but having a good conductor is always a plus. Here are some examples of common household materials that make easy pathways for electricity:

• Pipes made of copper or galvanized steel
  
• Power and other utility lines
  
• Metal building materials such as aluminum windows and gutter systems
  
  

Plumbing and wiring systems that run throughout the structure make it easier for the current to move from room to room as it finds its way to the ground.

Sparking a Flame
As it travels through the house, lightning touches flammable materials. A house fire caused by a strike commonly begins in the attic where bare building materials such as wooden trusses and insulation can catch fire. Wiring affected by a surge can kindle flames during a storm and even after it ends. Once ruined, circuits are ignition hazards.

Assessing the Damage
A burned roof, cracked walls, and singed floors are the most apparent aftereffects of a lightning fire, but often there are more than structural issues as well. Checking the wiring is crucial to make sure that there is no possibility of future electrical fires. Having a professional fire damage assessment done can help evaluate possible smoke, soot, and water damage not only to the house but to personal belongings that take the brunt of these secondary issues.
Understanding how a lightning fire starts and how to deal with the damage it can cause can give you a sense of relief and keep you swinging to the rain.

What’s Worse: Fire Damage, or Water Damage From Putting Out the Fire?

7/2/2020 (Permalink)

Fire in Timberland Acres, TX

Fires are bad enough. They cause at least $25 billion in losses every year within the U.S. along with thousands of deaths. Unfortunately, putting them out can cause a great deal of water damage in Timberlane Acres, TX, as well. Regrettably, water cleanup can be quite difficult and time-consuming if the damage is heavy.

So, Which Is Worse?

There’s no question that, if left unchecked, the fire damage will always be worse than anything water can do to your commercial building. Not only will water check the flames, but it also reduces the smoke clean up afterward, which can be incredibly difficult and, if spread beyond a single room, will always require an experienced fire damage restoration team to perform.
Regarding which causes more damage overall, it really depends on the totality of circumstances, including

If a fire sprinkler system is installed.
What the building is used for.
If it’s an isolated or structural fire.

Why Do Fire Sprinklers Make a Difference?
Water cleanup is normally going to be much easier in buildings that have a working fire sprinkler system. Each sprinkler head acts as its own fire detection system, responding very quickly to a high-heat scenario. Therefore, no sprinkler head that’s in an area without dangerous heat will activate, creating a very isolated area of water damage.
The sprinklers also act exponentially faster than a fire department possibly can. Getting a fire quenched quickly is essential to drastically reduce fire damage.
Plus, each sprinkler sprays out a relatively small amount of water. It uses the deflector – the metal part on the end with a star-like shape – to fan water around the base of the flames and reduce the resultant fire cleanup.
Either way, there will be some water damage. If it’s very limited, you can sometimes clean it up yourself. Once it gets into the walls or spreads beyond a single room, however, you’ll need a certified water damage restoration company to fix the damage.
If drywall has absorbed water, it must be replaced, or black mold can grow. Anything beyond a small-scale water cleanup usually requires advanced technologies, such as hygrometers, to locate and remove hidden damage.

Home Fire Damage: How Your Belongings Are Restored

6/8/2020 (Permalink)

Home fire in Pittsville, TX

Having a fire in your home is a disorienting and stressful experience for any household. Structures and personal property can sustain significant fire and smoke damage. If a pressurized fire hose is used, the water can be equally destructive. In the top position of your to-do list is arranging for a fire restoration service to begin the cleanup process.

Cleaning Up

Fire remediation begins with technicians sorting your personal belongings, such as furniture, paper products, and electronics. Your homeowner’s insurance will generally reimburse you for items that can’t be salvaged. If you have water damage, special processes exist for drying and restoring the items. Here are some examples of how your property will be handled:

Porous materials such as carpets and upholstery won’t generally be salvageable if they sustained fire damage. If water-damaged only, crews will likely attempt to dry, disinfect and restore them.
Electronics, if not damaged by heat, will be dehumidified and repaired.
Paper products, such as books, photos, and documents require a specialized off-site sequence of cleaning, drying, and pressing.

As long as the restoration supervisor deems it safe, you should be able to witness and even participate in the cleanup process. Your assistance can be useful in the sorting phase.

Hiring Help
It’s tempting for many homeowners to try the cleanup themselves. If your damage is minimal, you could attempt it, but fire damage can be complex and dangerous to clean up. Your insurance will probably cover a percentage of the costs, so it’s recommended you hire experts. They are trained to use special safety equipment and precautions to protect you and prevent injury. Professionals are accustomed to working quickly. They will remove water and begin drying unburned wet items right away, before mold and other secondary damage can develop. A remediation service may be your fastest and least stressful path through the cleaning process.
If you have experienced a fire in your Pittsville, TX, home, you have had some upheaval in your life. Now that you understand the basics of fire damage and cleanup, you may be able to make better decisions about how to approach restoring your home to its original condition.

Home Care 101: How to Prevent a House Fire

2/17/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke detectors are a tried and tested fire safety technology

Common Causes of House Fire Incidents

The idea of experiencing a house fire can be scary. Too many people have already lost their homes, and others have succumbed to fire-related injuries. As a homeowner, don’t take your chances with these unforgiving flames. It would be better to implement a fire preparation plan.
Common causes of house fire incidents in Timberlane Acres, TX  include:

• Careless smoking
  
• Unattended kitchen appliances
  
• Candles
  
• Barbeques
  
  

Test Fire Alarms Regularly

Smoke detectors are a tried and tested fire safety technology that has saved millions of lives across the globe. However, these trusty devices can also fail or need a battery change at some point. Create an inspection schedule, say once a month, where you trigger them on purpose to see if they work. If any of them produces a faint sound, replace the batteries ASAP. In case it does not come on at all, consider replacing it.

Inspect Heating Sources

Inspecting your heat sources is one of the most important steps to fire preparation. Although these devices keep your family warm when temperatures plummet, they can also be the cause of a home fire. Clean the air filters regularly to make heat exchange a breeze. Any blockage could result in a fire as the stuck debris, and dust gets exposed to temperature levels that could ignite them.

Stay in the Kitchen

Whatever you do, don’t leave any fires unattended. Whether it’s a pot simmering on the stove or an electric appliance, be sure to take it off the relevant power source to avoid any accidents. When food particles burn to a certain point, they can catch fire and spread it to the cabinets, resulting in a house fire.
As a homeowner in Timberlane Acres, TX, it is upon you to implement fire preparation measures. Make sure adults supervise every open flame or heat source in your house. Also, have a fire escape plan in case things head south.