Protecting Your Chesterfield, MO Home From Fire Damage

4/22/2020 (Permalink)

Fire Safety

In less than two minutes after a fire starts, it can be life-threatening. In just five minutes, a home can become completely engulfed in flames.

Flames aren’t the only threat you’re facing when your home catches on fire. Smoke and heat can be even more dangerous than the fire itself.  Nearly three times more people die from suffocation than from burns. The toxic fumes can cause you to become delirious making it harder for you to escape.

You can prevent your home from going up in flames but practicing smart fire safety. Most home fires are caused by carelessness, here are some of the leading causes of house fires and how you can prevent them.

Top 3 Causes of House Fires

1. Cooking

Cooking causes almost half of home fires. Leaving food unattended in by far the biggest factor and of course, frying is the most dangerous method.

How do I reduce the risk?

• Always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking.
• If you have to leave the room, turn the burners off.
• Keep flammable materials like towels, curtains, oven mitts, etc, away from cooking areas.
• Keep a metal lid handy to smother grease fires- never put water on a grease fire. That will only make it worse.
• Make sure you have a multipurpose fire extinguisher for your kitchen.

2. Smoking

While cooking is the leading cause of house fires, smoking is the number one cause of death. Smoking is responsible for 19% of house fire deaths. Most of those killed were in the bedroom, living room or den when the mattresses, bedding, or upholstered furniture caught fire.

How do I reduce the risk?

• If you smoke, do it outside.
• If you choose to smoke indoors, make sure you have a deep and wide ashtray and be sure that it is left on a sturdy table to prevent the tray from falling.
• Never light up when you are sleepy or under the influence. You should always be alert when you are smoking, especially if you are smoking indoors.

3. Heating Equipment

We have to heat our homes, but improper use of equipment can be dangerous.  Most home heating fires happen on winter evenings. Space heaters cause two out of every five fires.

How do I reduce the risk?

• If you must use a space heater, keep it at least three feet away from anything flammable including bedding, mattresses, clothing and upholstered furniture.
• Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• If you have a fireplace, always use a screen and have your chimney professionally cleaned at least once a year.
• NEVER heat your home with your oven.

No one ever expects that they will be a victim of a home fire. Don’t let being a victim be the reason you take extra precautions. Start now and prevent the accident altogether. Of course, not all accidents can be prevented, that’s why they are called “accidents”. Should you experience a home fire knowing who to call is a vital key to getting the problem resolved as quickly as possible.

Who do I call?

• 911- at the first sign of a home fire call 911 to get your local first responders en route to stop the fire from spreading.
• Call SERVPRO of South Chesterfield/Wildwood. Once the first responders put out the fire, no matter the size, SERVPRO is here to help make it look "Like it never even happened." We are here to help take care of your home and get you back into your normal routine as fast as possible.

Have questions? Call (636) 537-5400