Five Winter Fire Safety Tips You Need to Know

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

You can contact SERVPRO of Manteca and Modesto at any time of the day for guidance and professional services.

It gets frigid in winter, while families aim to keep their homes warm, we need to be careful with the heat sources used to avoid fire risks. If not correctly looked after, heating the home can have a devastating effect. Below are tips you need to know to protect lives and properties from fire raze in the winter. 

Install Smoke and Fire Alarm Systems

Smoke and fire alarm systems are suitable for early detection. Installing a sprinkler system would also help to attend to fire hazards quickly. Place alarm and sprinkler systems in the living room, kitchen, and laundry room. Check the batteries and replace them when low. 

Inspect Your Chimney

Not all smoke escapes through the chimney; some are trapped in the vent and, over time, get clogged. Excess smoke can lead to suffocation which is harmful to the body. It is essential to inspect the chimney annually and regularly clear up debris and clog to avoid fire outbreaks. 

Protect Your Fireplace With a Screen

Splashes of fire can travel to curtains or furniture, spread rapidly, and escalate into burning. The spark of a fire can also cause burns to people's skin or furnishings. It is, therefore, necessary to shield the fireplace with a screen to prevent stray sparks from escaping.

 Avoid disposing of papers or materials in the fireplace as they may cause splashes of sparks or escalate the fire to an uncontrollable state. Keep pets and children away from a fireplace. 

Maintain Your Furnace

As time goes by, furnaces wear and tear and may lead to potential problems. Hire a professional to inspect and maintain your furnace annually.

Take Caution When Using Candles and Space Heaters

Candles and space heaters should be distant from flammable materials like curtains, furniture, bed, clothes, and even children and pets. The exposed flames of a candle can be blown by breeze and caught by combustible surface nearby, the more reason it should be kept away from flammable materials. When children and pets play close to a candle or space heaters, they can trip, causing the candle or space heater to fall over, which may get caught by a surface and escalate into a severe fire. 

Blow out candles before going to sleep or leaving the room. Get space heaters with an automatic off switch to prevent overheating after working for many hours and place them three feet apart.

Remember to be careful and stay safe during the winter. While preparing for winter, it is advisable to get the help of a professional to help inspect your heat facilities and maintain them properly to ensure maximum performance and safety. Preventive maintenance is less expensive than restoring the home after a fire hazard. You can contact SERVPRO of Manteca and Modesto at any time of the day for guidance and professional services. SERVPRO is committed to protecting the lives and properties of the community from fire hazards. SERVPRO is not only known for its certified and customer-friendly staff but also its reliability and quality of services provided.