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How To Preventing A Winter House Fire (Part 1 of 2)

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As we approach the Winter season there are obvious changes to the weather temperature outside but also a new host of potential causes of fires. A house fire can be one of the most devastating things that can happen to you and your family. Your family’s safety, your pets, your cherished possessions, your clothes, children’s toys. All of these items are at risk during a house fire.

In fact in 2024, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.38 million fires in the United States. These fires caused an estimated 3,920 civilian fire deaths and 11,780 reported civilian fire injuries. The property damage caused by these fires was estimated at $19 billion.  This is a staggering amount of loss of life and property damage.

Source: Fire loss in the United States | NFPA Research

Our team at AfterCare Restoration has put together an article with helpful tips to help prevent a house fire from happening.  

Smoke detector and fire alarm in action background with copy space

Ensure Your Smoke Alarms Are Properly Working

Sadly, each year over three out of every five deaths from a house fire are because the smoke alarms weren’t installed or not working. Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, in every main room, and on every level.  Having smoke alarms installed throughout your house will not only drastically reduce the chance of fatality from a fire but also can alert you so it could quickly be put out.

 

Ensure Proper Electrical Wiring

If your house is over 20 years old we recommend having your house inspected by a certified electrical contractor. Just one old or faulty wiring can cause an electrical fire which is why if you have an older home you should have it inspected. In fact electrical failures and malfunctions are the second leading cause of electrical fires in the United States each year. 

 

Cardboard house on fire with flames coming off the roof--indicates a house fireAvoid Keeping Flammable Material In Your Home

Gasoline cans, kerosine, propane tanks, lighter fluid are all highly flammable items that shouldn’t be stored in your home. Just the vapor alone from flammable items can lead to a house fire that can quickly spread throughout the home. We recommend having a small shed where you store these items at a minimum of 50 feet away from your home.  If you have any questions about the storage of flammable items you should also contact your local fire department. They are an excellent resource for proper storage of flammable materials and they would be glad to answer any questions you have in order to help prevent a dangerous situation. 

 

Avoid Christmas Tree Fires

The smell of a real Christmas tree is something we all love but making sure the tree doesn’t get to dry and spark a fire is critically important. If you choose to have a real tree you need to ensure that it is watered twice a day and the lights are not left on while you aren’t home or during the night while you are sleeping. Also regularly check the tree to ensure it isn’t too hot and that none of the lights are faulty which could also spark a fire.

 

Have Your Furnace Inspected

If you have a furnace you should have it inspected each year before you turn it on. Puff backs are something that happens every year and the soot will spread over a much larger radius than one would expect. This can be avoided by having it inspected and turned on by a certified HVAC professional. 

 

What Do The Experts Say?

One of the areas we cite for fire damage information is the U.S. Fire Administration which falls under FEMA. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the mission of the U.S. Fire Administration is to support and strengthen fire and emergency medical services (EMS) and stakeholders to prepare for, prevent, mitigate and respond to all hazards. Below is a report from the U.S. Fire Administration that we encourage you to review. 

Statistical Reports on Fire Causes

 

 

Aftercare Restoration is Local & Veteran Owned Water & Fire Damage Restoration Company. 

Call 24/7 AfterCare Restoration 215.515.1000

Our company is committed to integrity and honesty and our six core values and providing a 5 Star Customer Experience.  Our team will explain the extent of the damage, the industry standard process to remediate your property. If for some reason you are not covered by insurance, we will provide you with the same detailed line item estimate as we do NOT markup jobs if you are not covered.  As a local family-owned company, we understand that money doesn’t grow on trees.

Aftercare Restoration a Local Veteran owned Emergency Damage Restoration company offering 24/7 Water & Fire Damage Restoration services.  This includes Water and flood cleanup, Fire board-up, demo, structural cleaning, odor removal and full rebuild and reconstruction service.  As a Local Veteran Owned company, we’re committed to earning your trust and ensuring 100% customer satisfaction.

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