October is Fire Prevention Month, making it an ideal time to review fire safety around your home. House fires can start in many different ways, including cooking accidents, electrical problems, heating equipment, candles, and other everyday activities.
While no home can be completely free of fire risk, taking a few preventive steps can help reduce potential hazards and give your household more time to respond if a fire occurs.
Check Your Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are one of the most important parts of a home fire safety plan. Make sure alarms are installed in appropriate areas throughout your home, including near bedrooms and on each level.
Test smoke alarms regularly and replace batteries when needed. If your alarms are older, check the manufacturer's recommendations to determine whether they should be replaced.
Everyone in the household should also recognize the sound of the alarm and understand what to do when it goes off.
Pay Attention in the Kitchen
Cooking is a common source of residential fires. Stay nearby when frying, grilling, broiling, or cooking with high heat, and avoid leaving food unattended for extended periods.
Keep towels, paper products, packaging, and other combustible items away from burners and hot cooking surfaces. Grease and food buildup around the stove can also create additional fire hazards, so keeping cooking areas clean is important.
If a small grease fire occurs, never pour water on it. Knowing how to safely respond to different types of kitchen fires can prevent a small incident from becoming much more serious.
Inspect Heating Equipment
As temperatures begin to drop, October is also a good time to check furnaces, fireplaces, chimneys, and other heating equipment before they are used regularly.
Have heating systems and fireplaces inspected or serviced when appropriate. Keep combustible materials away from furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and portable heaters.
If you use a space heater, place it on a stable surface with plenty of clearance from furniture, curtains, bedding, and other materials that could catch fire. Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
Watch for Electrical Hazards
Damaged electrical cords, overloaded outlets, and improper use of extension cords can create fire hazards.
Look around your home for frayed cords, loose outlets, damaged plugs, or devices that become unusually hot. Avoid running electrical cords underneath rugs or furniture where damage may go unnoticed.
Extension cords should generally be used as temporary solutions rather than permanent wiring. If you frequently need additional outlets, it may be worth having a qualified electrician evaluate the area.
Use Candles Carefully
Candles can quickly become a fire hazard when left unattended or placed near combustible materials.
Keep candles away from curtains, decorations, paper, furniture, and areas where children or pets could knock them over. Always extinguish candles before leaving a room or going to bed.
Battery-operated candles can provide a similar atmosphere without an open flame.
Keep Your Dryer and Vent Clean
Lint is highly combustible, making clothes dryers another area worth checking.
Clean the lint filter after each load and periodically inspect the dryer vent and exhaust system. A dryer that takes unusually long to dry clothes, becomes excessively hot, or produces a burning smell should be inspected before continued use.
Have Fire Extinguishers Available
Fire extinguishers can be useful for certain small fires when they are properly selected, maintained, and used.
Place extinguishers in accessible locations and make sure household members understand when and how to use them. An extinguisher should never be used as a substitute for evacuating when a fire is spreading or conditions are unsafe.
Create and Practice an Escape Plan
Fire prevention is important, but every household should also be prepared in case a fire does occur.
Identify at least two possible ways out of sleeping areas when possible and establish a meeting place outside the home. Make sure everyone understands that once they are safely outside, they should not return to the house.
Practicing your escape plan can be especially helpful for households with children, older adults, or anyone who may need additional assistance.
Review Changes Around Your Home
Major home improvements, additions, renovations, new heating systems, wood stoves, or other changes can affect both fire risks and your homeowners insurance.
It is a good idea to keep your insurance agency informed when significant changes are made to your property. Reviewing your policy periodically can also help you understand your current limits, deductibles, and available coverage options. Fire safety is also important for people with renters insurance or condo insurance, since personal belongings, liability, and other policy considerations may be affected by a fire-related loss.
Schoen Insurance Agency can help you review your homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or condo insurance and discuss how changes to your home or living situation may affect your policy. If you have questions, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are some of the most common fire hazards homeowners should check during Fire Prevention Month?
Homeowners should check smoke alarms, cooking areas, heating equipment, electrical cords and outlets, fireplaces, clothes dryers, candles, and other potential sources of heat or flame. October is a good time for homeowners in Highland, Michigan to review these areas before colder weather increases the use of heating equipment.
Should I tell my insurance agency if I add a fireplace, wood stove, or other heating equipment?
It is a good idea to contact your insurance agency when making significant changes to your home, including adding certain heating equipment. The change may affect underwriting requirements, policy terms, or available coverage. Schoen Insurance Agency can help you review your homeowners insurance and discuss how changes to your property may affect your policy.
Can homeowners insurance help cover damage caused by a house fire?
Homeowners insurance can help cover certain fire-related damage when the loss is covered under the terms of the policy. Coverage, limits, deductibles, conditions, and exclusions vary by policy and insurance company. Schoen Insurance Agency can help homeowners in Highland and throughout Michigan review their policy and understand how their coverage may respond to a fire-related loss.
