Fire Safety Guide
Waking up to smoke and flames is one of the most distressing things that can happen to you, your family, and your home. And the worst part is that most home fires are preventable. Keep your family and your home safe with just a little fire safety preparation and prevention. From creating a fire escape plan to making sure your smoke detectors are working properly, these fire safety tips put together by our team at Tom Madsen LLC, are easy to learn and practice in your home.
Prevention
Home fires can occur for a variety of reasons, but many are preventable. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires, followed by heating equipment, electrical malfunction, intentional fires, and smoking materials. Home fires are not 100 percent preventable, but you can take necessary steps today to reduce your risk of home fires. Here’s how:
- Install and regularly check smoke alarms on every floor of your home and within every bedroom.
- Never leave food cooking unattended.
- Avoid using portable and fixed space heaters, as heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.
- Have a fire plan that gets you out of your home in less than two minutes, and make sure the whole family knows it.
- Avoid smoking in the house.
Extinguishing
If a small fire starts in your home, fire extinguishers are a helpful tool to make sure it doesn’t become a large fire. You can contact your local fire department for fire extinguisher training. Or, follow these simple recommendations from the U.S. Fire Administration. To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word “PASS:”
- Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
- Aim low. Point the nozzle at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.
Restoration
Cleanup needs to begin immediately to reduce the amount of wear and tear from the settling soot and water. A professional restoration company will use highly effective cleaning compounds. The cleaning methods, along with the products, thoroughly and deeply clean all stained and impaired surfaces. If construction needs to take place, your home may need the services of both a fire restoration company and a general contractor. Tom Madsen can provide both services, making it faster for you to get back into your home.
If you find yourself in need of home fire restoration services for your New Jersey home, contact Tom Madsen LLC at (973) 875-9716. We will work quickly and efficiently to get your home repaired so you can go back to life as you knew it. Don’t wait until damages get worse. Call Tom Madsen LLC today.