How To Prevent A House Fire?

Everyone is used to the idea of smoke coming out of his or her chimney, but if you see flames and sparks…you likely have a chimney fire. The key question is, how can these situations be prevented and what do you do to keep your home and family safe?  It is important to have a chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year.  To schedule your appointment call Above and Beyond Chimney Service and let’s get started in preserving your most precious assets.

How Can I prevent A house fire?

Your standard fare in the fireplace shouldn’t get enough air to burst into a harmful powerhouse, but it is still a fire, so make sure you keep flammable objects a safe distance from the open fire.  Also, make sure kids and pets are supervised while a fire is burning.  What homeowners have to understand is that there are things inside of the chimney that you cannot see that could spark a fire.

 

released from the wood of a burning fire that builds up inside of the chimney.  These combined with other blockages caused by animals or debris can lead to chimney fires.  Aside from fires, these blockages can result in draft problems that could lead to poor air quality and carbon monoxide poisoning.  This is why it is important to have a Full Training certified technician come and do annual maintenance on your unit.

How can I keep my family safe during a fire?

If you experience a fire, there are a few ways to make sure you and your family are safe.  One of the most important items to have in your home is a smoke alarm.  If a fire breaks out, these will alert you so you can focus on getting out.  If your home has a large floor plan or multiple levels, you need to install multiple alarms.  If you want to go a step further, you can install sprinklers as well. Next, it is important to make sure you have a plan that includes two exits from each room (in case one is blocked) to evacuate the home.  When evacuating, get as low to the floor as you can to reduce the chances of inhaling smoke.  Remember, if a door handle is hot…do not open it. Also, if a piece of your clothing catches fire — stop, drop and roll to extinguish the flames.

 

If you have children or elderly people in your home, you may do routine drills to make sure that the plan is still fresh on the mind and accessible for every member of the family.  Have all members meet at a common gathering place when out and do not send anyone back in the home after escaping.