Fire Safety Tips
October is National Fire Safety Awareness Month to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The massive fire burned the city for two days, claiming around 300 lives and destroying 3.3 acres of the city, leaving 100,000 residents homeless. It is considered one of the largest disasters of the 19th century. In 1911, on the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the first week of October was designated to fire safety. Therefore, we like to share prevention and safety tips with you throughout the month of October. During the colder months, we tend to see a rise in home fires, most due in part to preventable mistakes. Be smart this year and take care not leave open flames in empty rooms, keep the fried turkeys away from the house, put the pumkins far enough away from doors so as not to knock them over, and be carfeul with your space heaters! Listed below are some tips we would like to share with you so that you may keep your home and family safe this fall and winter season!
Be Prepared
In the event of a home fire, there is usually limited time to react. It is important to be prepared by developing an evacuation plan so that you and your loved ones can react more quickly:
October is National Fire Safety Month in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Practice fire evacuation drills once every six months with all members of your household, including pets. Make sure your family is familiar with "stop, drop, and roll" in case their clothes catch fire.
Identify two ways out of each room in your home and make sure fire exits are always free of clutter or furniture.
Pinpoint a meeting location near the front of your home so that firefighters know you're out. Once you're out, STAY OUT.
Make coipies of important documents and store them in a fire-proof container, including you and your family's and pet's medical records, insurance policies, bank information, etc.
Ongoing Maintainence
Make sure there are smoke alarms on every level of your home, as well as in every bedroom.
Frequently test smoke alarms and change the batteries every time the time changes (twice per year). Smoke alarms should be less than 10 years old to be fully effective.
Schedule annual furnance and heating system inspections.
Developing Smart Safety Habits
Never leave utensils unattended on the stove while cooking; move anything that can catch fire-like pot holders, towels, plastic, clothing, oil, etc.-away from the stove top.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen at all times. NEVER use water to douse a kitchen fire.
Ensure electrical outlets are not overloaded with plugs and that cords are not frayed or cracked. (Especially on those fall and winter decorations that are stored for months at a time).
Turn off portable space heaters when you leave the room for an extended period of time or before going to bed.
Extinguish any lit candles before leaving a room.
If smokiong inside the home (which we DO NOT recommend), designate an area for smoking, complete with a deep ashtray; never smoke in an area where you are likely to fall asleep (such as the living room or bedroom).
If smoking outside, do not throw your lit cigarettes on the ground, as things tend to dry out this time of year and are more likely to become flamable.
According to Kudzu, fire damage restoration can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $50,000 depending on the extent of the damge. Prevent costly damages and heartache by practicing these simple tips. If you have questions about the fire restoration process or would like more information on protecting your home or family from such a loss, please call ServiceMaster by Bailey at the office at 770.720.9533 and we will be happy to help! In the unfortunate event of a structural fire, our crews are trained and certified to conduct mitigation services for contents, fire, odor and smoke, water, and mold issues that are typically associated with these types of damages. Stay safe!
