Home Fires Peak During Winter Months

2/22/2018 (Permalink)

Working smoke alarms cut the chances of dying in a house fire in half, and they are a family's first indication of a fire. But once that alarm sounds a fire can spread quickly, leaving only a minute or two to escape, according to the National Fire Protection Association. That's why it's so important to have an escape plan and practice it using different ways out of the house.

NSC provides the following tips to keep your home safe from fire:

• Install both types of smoke alarms (ionization and photoelectric) and carbon monoxide alarms; change the batteries at least once a year in these devices
• Plan – and practice – an escape route and agree on a meeting place outside of your home; be prepared to assist young children, family members with special needs and pets
• Know two ways out of every room in the home
• Learn how to use your fire extinguisher
• If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop and roll
• When evacuating, if door handles are hot, pick an alternate route
• Leave your house and call for help; do not go back to help someone else

If you have questions about fire mitigation, please give SERVPRO of Bend a call at 541-385-7044. We have certified fire mitigation specialists on staff to help.