Fire by matthewvenn
Maximizing the safety of your house is a basic requirement you should fulfill if you want to fully enjoy the comfort of your home. There are many potential dangers that can cause severe harm to your property or, in the worst scenarios, even endanger your life. In this article, we’ll focus on protecting your property from one of the most common and serious hazards: fire.
Fire Prevention Canada figures are alarming: on average, fire kills eight people each week in Canada, with residential fires accounting for 73 per cent of these fatalities. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) fire statistics show that the most dangerous home fires occur during the night. Most home fire deaths result from fires that were reported between 10:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. — even though only a quarter of home fires occur during these hours. The leading cause of these fatal fires is smoking, despite the fact that most fires originate in the kitchen.
The first step toward adequate protection is awareness. Less than one quarter of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Since most of the fatalities happen while occupants are asleep, it’s critical to create an escape plan because a quick reaction can save your life. Installing a smoke alarm significantly reduces the risk of dying in a home fire. As NFPA numbers show, underestimating the importance of smoke alarms can have disastrous consequences. Roughly two thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. The analysis also demonstrates that there’s a significant difference in the effectiveness of hardwired alarms (operated in 91% of fires) and battery-powered alarms (operated in 75% of fires). Where possible, plan two different escape routes — a main exit and an alternate exit from each room. Make sure that everybody is well informed about your escape plan and knows the number of your fire department and the location of the nearest fire extinguisher. Fire sprinklers are especially quick and effective fire extinguishers that can reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by about 80%.
It’s extremely important to pay special attention to any potential sources of fire when cooking, as it’s the most frequent source of home fires. Cooking oil and grease can quickly ignite into flames and cause the fastest-spreading and most destructive type of residential fire. Therefore, never leave your cooking unattended and be extremely cautious when there are children around. Do not forget to follow the safety instructions of all appliances. As stated in NFPA’s fire safety statistics, there has been an average of 155,400 cooking-related residential fires each year between 2005 and 2009, causing an average of 390 deaths, 4,800 injuries, and $771 million in direct property damage.
The second leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths is heating equipment. Heating equipment fires happen mostly during the cooler months of the year. To minimize the risk, try to keep flammable objects such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses, or bedding away from heating equipment. This is the main factor of heat equipment fire deaths. An average of 64,100 heating-related home fires each year between 2005 and 2009 is a warning signal that we should not underestimate the importance of taking precautions when it comes to our heating equipment.
