Fire Prevention

Sobering Statistics
Do you take fire prevention seriously? Consider these statistics: Fire is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the home. Fire most often affects children and the elderly. Fires account for more than $2 billion in damage to homes each year. To keep your home and family safe from fire, follow these prevention measures from the home security experts at Berkshire Alarm.

Fire Prevention Tactics
Fires can begin anywhere, but your kitchen and garage pose the biggest threats for in-home blazes. Here's how to reduce your risk of fire in vulnerable places, along with tips to protect items in your home.

Appliances and tools
Use only UL (Underwriters Laboratories)-listed or FM (Factory Mutual)-approved appliances and tools, checking regularly for frayed or worn power cords or plugs. Replace faulty cords immediately. Never operate appliances, switches or outlets with wet hands or plug in more appliances than a socket is designed to handle.

Stove
Keep areas around stoves, refrigerators, and dishwashers clean to prevent dust particles from igniting. Don't store flammable items over the stove. Turn pot handles inward so children can't pull them down. It's also a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher on a wall nearby the stove.

Trash
Keep trash and other items away from the furnace or water heater, preferably stored in sealed containers.

Heating equipment
Experts advise that you check heating equipment annually. Never store gasoline and other flammables near heating equipment or a pilot light. Instead, store them in tight metal containers away from the house.

Know Your Fire Prevention Equipment
Smoke detectors are an important and effective tool to alert you of a fire in your home and/or awaken you from sleep; note that most deaths from fire occur when people are sleeping. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you install one smoke detector outside each bedroom and on all levels of your home and that you test all your smoke detectors at least one a month.

You may want to consider installing a monitored fire detection system. It sounds an audible alarm and automatically sends a signal to a monitoring center that can quickly dispatch the fire department. For more information, request a home security analysis with the home security experts at Berkshire Alarm.

Fire extinguishers
A fire extinguisher can help you control a small fire and prevent further damage. A multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher, labeled A-B-C, is effective against most types of fires.

Fire extinguishers designed for fighting specific fire forms are especially useful in the following areas of your home:
Type A (for the den or living areas): Use Type A on ordinary combustibles such as paper, cloth, wood, rubber and many plastics.
Type B (for the kitchen or garage): Use Type B on flammable liquids such as oils, gasoline, kitchen grease, paints, and solvents.
Type C (for the basement or workroom): Use Type C on electrical fires from wiring, fuse boxes, motors, power tools, appliances and electronics.

One Fire Escape Route Not Enough
In the event of a large, uncontrollable fire, your best defense is a quick escape. Plan a fire escape route and an alternate route to be used when the main route is blocked by fire. Practice taking the escape and alternate routes regularly with your family.

For expert assistance on home fire prevention and safety, schedule a home security system estimate from Berkshire Alarm.