National Fire Prevention Week

National Fire Prevention Week is one of our country’s longest-running public health observances. This week is meant to educate people all across the country on the best practices, methods, and tips to avoid fires in homes, schools, businesses, and more. In honor of National Fire Prevention Week, Trusted Insurance Partners LLC is here to help you stay informed on the best ways to prevent a fire in your home.

Leading Causes of Fires 

Before learning about prevention tips, it is important to be aware of the leading causes of home fires. The leading cause of home fires is cooking. Even in our home, staying focused on one task is difficult. Whether it is our children needing our attention, a loved one calling us, or checking our email, we often divert our attention away from cooking. All of these distractions can lead to something frying, grilling, or boiling for too long, causing a fire.  

Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and it includes portable and fixed space heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces. It is important to stay aware when using any home heating method and keep all flammables at a distance.  

The third leading cause of home fires is electrical failure or malfunction. Things such as improper wiring, a worn-out cord,  or even power surges can easily start a fire, which can quickly expand to the whole house.

Prevention Tips

Now that we have an understanding of the leading causes of home fires,  how can we prevent them?  

To prevent cooking-related house fires:

• Always ensure ranges and ovens are turned off before walking away
• Every kitchen should be equipped with a fire extinguisher in case of emergencies
• Remain in the kitchen at all times to regularly check on your food and set timers
• Keep any flammable objects away from the stove

To prevent home heating fires:

• Never leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended
• Place space heaters on a non-flammable surface
• Keep all flammables at  least 3 feet away  from space heaters, fireplaces, or stove
• Keep children and pets away from  space heaters

To prevent electrical malfunction fires:

• Regularly check all cords
• Replace any cords that are worn out or have bare wires
• Avoid overloading  outlets
• Unplug appliances when not in use

In addition to the tips above, it is crucial that you keep your house protected by installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms and ensuring that you have proper home insurance. Contact Trusted Insurance Partners LLC today  to make sure that your home insurance policy  is up to date.