A fire can be a catastrophic event, leading to the destruction of property or loss of life. U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated 358,500 home structure fires per year. Therefore, reducing the risk of a fire at your business is one of the best steps you can take. Learn what else to do to keep your loved ones safe.

Fire Prevention Plan

The purpose of a fire prevention plan is to prevent a fire from occurring. A fire prevention plan is required by all employers who have ten or more employees. If you have ten or fewer employees, you can communicate your plan orally.

Establish a detailed fire emergency evacuation plan covering all aspects of fire safety for a specific building or property. Secondly, your plan should also consider all of the fire issues – including issues arising from heat, oxygen, and fuel. Finally, your plan will need to include what to do if a fire does occur at your home or place of work. All these measures will depend on your onsite activities.

Install Smoke Alarms

Smoke may kill occupants long before flames are visible. That’s why it’s essential to have enough smoke alarms in your home and place of work. Standard smoke alarms emit loud beeping when they sense danger. This type of alarm works best for very fast, fierce fires.

Your house’s layout will determine how many smoke alarms you need. They should be placed inside or directly outside of each bedroom and common areas.

Test your smoke alarm once a month and replace the batteries every year. Also, clean the alarms regularly, making sure to go around the sides.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection Devices

Any fuel-burning appliance or other device has the potential to produce dangerous levels of CO gas. The primary sources are your home’s furnace, dryer vent in a drying machine, fireplace, or chimney. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless and odorless gas, so you can’t detect it by sight or smell. Even small doses of carbon monoxide can cause permanent damage or death.

A carbon monoxide (CO) detector can detect high levels of this colorless and odorless gas in your home. Therefore, you should have a carbon monoxide (CO) detector in every room where fuel is burned. Some come as separate units, while others are combined with smoke alarms.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers can be a small but essential part of the home fire safety plan. They can mean the difference between a little localized incident and a raging inferno. In fact, extinguishers put out more workplace fires than the Fire and Rescue Service. They can turn what could have been a devastating fire into just a little mess.

It is also essential that the right type of extinguisher is used for the fire. For the home, choose a fire extinguisher that is powerful enough to handle a small fire.

Every fire extinguisher must be placed in a visible and easy-to-reach location. With proper servicing and maintenance, fire extinguishers should last for up between 15 years.

Emergency Exits and Routes

Emergency exit routes are essential because they provide a clear, safe way to evacuate a building. With more exit routes available, people escape easily, significantly decreasing the risk of injury or death.

OSHA requires every workplace to have at least two emergency exits. All and any exit within a building should be considered a potential exit to safety. Exit doors must always be unlocked from the inside. In order to achieve this, it may be necessary to protect the route. This can be done by suitably segregating escape routes.

An exit access must be at least 28 inches wide at all points. Moreover, any obstructions should be cleared immediately and reported to a manager.

Don’t Overload Circuits

­Overloaded outlets do cause fires — an estimated 5,300 annually in American households. Electrical fires originate in electric wires, cables, circuit breakers, and electrical components. An overload would cause a circuit wiring to overheat, which could lead to a fire.

Two-thirds of all electrical fires begin in plugs or cords on fixed appliances. Therefore, you should never use an appliance with a worn or frayed cord. Another way to prevent overload and fires is to have dedicated circuits for devices that require a lot of power. For instance, BBQ should be prepared on a grill with its own circuit, giving it the best flavor.

Takeaway

It’s better to prevent a fire from happening in the first place. Keep your family and your home safe with just a little fire safety preparation .