Create a Home Fire Escape Plan

9/17/2020 (Permalink)

Being that most of us have been at home and the fall and winter seasons are approaching quickly, spend some of that time indoors and create a fire escape plan for your household.

SERVPRO is here to help you with the after effects from a fire and we can aid in getting your home back to pre-fire condition. In life you have to expect the unexpected so take the time to create a fire plan should a fire happen to you.

There were an estimated 339,500 home structure fires in 2019 and 2,770 associated home structure fire deaths. This resulted in $7.8 billion worth of direct property damage. By creating a fire plan you can help to protect your family and allow for them to safely evacuate, which will allow for these numbers to drop.

It is noted that your ability to get out depends on advanced warning from smoke alarms and advanced planning. Fire has the ability to rapidly spread through your home, leaving you with as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Something as simple as a closed door may help slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.

Install smoke alarms in every room where someone sleeps and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. It is extremely important that fire alarms are all interconnected. When one sounds, they should all sound.

Before a fire happens, get everyone in your household together and devise a fire plan. We recommend that you:

• Draw a map of your home. Show all doors and windows.
• Visit each room. Find two ways out.
• All windows and doors should open easily.
  • You should also be able to use them to get outside.
• Make sure your home has smoke alarms.
  • Push the test button to make sure each alarm is working.
• Pick a meeting place outside. We recommend that it should be in front of your home. Everyone will meet at the meeting place following evacuation.
• Make sure your house or building number can be seen from the street.
• Learn the emergency phone number for your fire department.
• Practice your home fire escape drill!

If you experience a fire don't forget to give the restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Bellaire, Kalkaska, Lake City & Grayling a call! (231) 564-4014