Home Fire Prevention and Creating a Family Fire Escape Plan

While many are concerned with the wildfires of summer, winter is the season with the highest danger for house fires. Cold weather means wood-burning stoves and space heaters are in use regularly. Fireplaces crackle with burning wood and electric blankets are put to use to keep warm at night.

But, heating elements and flames can also spell danger. Fires can start and quickly grow into a huge blaze. It only takes a few minutes for an electrical short or a ember from a fireplace to become a devastating blaze, causing a great deal of damage or even death. As your insurance agency, this is an issue that is very important to us! Unfortunately, we've seen clients suffer from home fires, and we want to share some things you can do to prevent a disaster.

Basic Fire Prevention

Practice basic fire prevention, like checking electrical cords and not leaving a pot unattended on the stove. If you're a smoker, make sure to light up outside, and make sure your cigarette is out before discarding it. It's best to wet it down before putting it in the trash, as the hot ash could ignite paper or other combustible material.

Natural Gas Leaks

If you have a gas appliance, make sure to follow all the manufacturer's instructions for its use, and if you smell gas immediately shut it off. Wait five minutes and make sure you don't smell any gas, then carefully follow the proper procedure for relighting it. If you still smell gas, turn the gas off, go outside and call your gas company. Don't call from inside the house, as a spark from the phone could ignite the gas. Stay outside until the gas technician tells you it's safe to go back in.

Have a Family Fire Escape Plan

Create a plan and discuss it with your children. When children know what to expect, they can remain calm, even during an emergency. Help your child understand exactly what to do if a fire occurs.

Stress the importance of getting out of the house and to your family meeting spot.  Choose an area a safe distance from the house where children should go if making a fire escape. It could be a street light, mailbox, or even a neighbor's tree, but it should be fairly close, so smaller children won't get lost or disoriented, especially if it's dark.

If you have pets, tell your kids that your pets will find their own way out safely and that they should never go back to rescue the pet on their own.

As a family, go through each room of the house and discuss TWO different ways to get out if a fire occurs. Let children practice opening a latch and unlocking doors too.

Now host a fire drill! Make the practice drills fun and informative. Create sample
scenarios and build up your kid's confidence. They'll be better prepared for a fire and you will too!

Get Out Quickly!

When it comes to any sort of emergency situation, people are what matter most.
Don't stop to gather photos, paintings or your favorite coat; it might prove fatal. Fires can spread very quickly, and smoke inhalation kills more people than the actual flames do. Grab your cellphone, escape the house as fast as you can, and make sure your children get out with you! Then call 9-1-1 once you're safely out of the house.

Take precautions to protect your loved ones and let your professional insurance agents at SAV-ON take care of protecting your home and belongings! Call SAV-ON Insurance Agencies at 888-867-2866 for a free quote on your Homeowner's Insurance today!