Winter House Fire Preparedness

1/3/2022 (Permalink)

This house fire could have been prevented...

There are so many ways that a house fire can be started during the winter months January and February. Most of these instances are usually preventable if proper precautions are met. SERVPRO of Beverly/ Cape Ann (978)927-8665 wants to always remind you to be wary of certain instances that can unfortunately lead to a housefire in the dead of winter.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), heating is the second leading cause of home fires following cooking. Taking simple steps can prevent a fire from happening in your home. 

The National Fire Protection Association and USFA offer these heating safety tips, including:

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

The US Fire Administration suggests:

• Replace all your smoke alarm batteries with new batteries yearly and test your alarms monthly.
• Clean your pipes and chimneys if you have not done so for this season
• If you heat with wood, "burn clean, not green": using properly seasoned wood is safer, producing less creosote, and provides more heat.

Home fires are now caused most frequently by candle use, and by placing combustible materials too close to heat sources. Be mindful of this! Never leave a room with a burning candle - always make sure it is out first. And always provide sufficient clearance around any heat source.

Of course, not everything can be prevented and when these things happen look for SERVPRO of Beverly/ Cape Ann (978)927-8665 to help clean up afterwards. We can help put everything back right “Like it never even happened.”

What’s Your Extinguisher Type?

In an emergency, a portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property when used to put out a small fire. However, when it comes to extinguishers, one type does not fit all. Did you know there are several types of fire extinguishers? Each one is designed to extinguish different kinds of fires:

• A: For use with materials like cloth, wood, and paper.
• A-B-C or B-C: Multi-purpose fire extinguishers best suited for home use. Most home improvement stores carry fire extinguishers that cover class A through class C.
• B: For use with combustible and flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil, and oil-based paints.
• C: For use with electrical equipment like appliances, tools, or other equipment that is plugged in.
• D: For use with flammable metals like aluminum, magnesium, and titanium; and
• K: For use with vegetable oils, animal oils, and fats in cooking appliances.

Before using an extinguisher, please keep in mind that the U. S. Fire Administration recommends that only people trained in the proper use and maintenance of fire extinguishers consider using them when appropriate. Contact your local fire department for training information.

Remember that SERVPRO of Beverly/ Cape Ann (978)927-8665 will always be there to help with our 24/7 Emergency Service!