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Keep Your Home Safe From Fires | SERVPRO® of Sioux Falls
6/14/2022 (Permalink)
your home is damaged in a house fire, SERVPRO of Sioux Falls is here to help. Contact us for any fire restoration need.
The American Red Cross has responded to more than 20,000 house fires in 2022, and that is only a fraction of the fires the nation has seen so far.
Smoke detectors are the best fire-preventive tool in your home, but there are steps you can take to protect your life and loved ones. Even simple acts of cleaning can help make your home fire-safe.
Clutter may be something you battle on a daily basis in your home already, but when hallways, stairwells and other small spaces become full of unused items, they actually pose a fire risk. Loose clothing and other cloth items can both serve as fuel for a fire and block potential exits.
Cloth items left near a water heater can actually start a fire as the water heater warms up. Allowing your spaces to remain open and free of clutter not only gives you a clear escape route in the event of an emergency, but it can also slow a fire from spreading.
Extension cords can also become a source of fire when they are overloaded. Store any electrical appliances you don’t use and unplug anything you don’t use frequently.
Always ensure there is space between walls and furniture so that outlets do not overheat and air can flow properly.
The area around your home is key in providing protection from fires that originate outside. Using strategically placed landscaping both protects your home and gives room for firefighters to work in the event of an emergency.
In some states like California, there are regulations for defensible zones due to the effectiveness of slowing down wildfires, but this kind of yard work is smart for every home.
Due to the extreme risk most of South Dakota has for grass fires, keeping your yard clear of dead plants, leaves and limbs is essential in our fight for protection. This spring, we experienced a good deal of dry and windy weather that kept the risk of fire high as well, especially in the Black Hills National Forest area.
This specific landscaping doesn’t mean you can’t plant your favorite items; it simply requires the proper layout and strategic planning of plants that can help to slow the spread. Given our area’s risk factors, it is definitely worth it.
Keeping your home and yard clear of clutter isn’t the only way to practice prevention. Cleaning your chimney and stove regularly can eliminate a high fire-risk area. Don’t forget to have your chimney inspected at least once a year as well.
Lowering your risk of fire isn’t solely about deep-cleaning, either. Taking care of the hidden dust bunnies behind furniture is a great way to prevent fires. Pay particular attention to dusting around outlets and other electrical appliances.
Our homes are more than a sanctuary these days—they also serve us for work, play and even schooling. Keeping it clean is the best way to prevent the devastation a fire would cause.
If you have experienced fire damage or want to learn more about our fire damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, 24/7