Hazards At Home: Reducing Your Risk Of Accidental Fire

firefighter spraying water at a house fire
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When you’re at home it feels like the safest place in the world, so none of us like the idea of hidden dangers lurking. However, more accidents happen at home than anywhere else. And one particular danger is an accidental fire.

This can be devastating and even take lives. So it’s so important to do what you can to minimize your risk. Here are some ideas for going about it.

How to reduce risk of accidental fire at home

 Have an annual electrical safety check

Electricity is a major cause of accidental fires that occur in the home. With things like faulty wiring causing a huge issue. If you know the electrics in your property are old then it’s absolutely worth having them checked out by a professional.

In some cases, you may require a complete rewiring which is expensive, but worth every bit of the cost if it means keeping you and your family safe.

Once you know you have sufficient wiring in place, have an electrician come out once a year to give everything a check over. You can also be proactive by properly maintaining your electrical appliances. Things like using the correct fuses and not plugging in very old items, as these are most likely to cause a fire.

Consider your roof and cladding

When you think of fires in the home, it’s easy to overlook the roof, loft, and roof void spaces. However, blazes here can be deadly. They can be difficult to put out, and cause extreme water damage to the home in the extinguishing process.

A heat source in the home can cause the roof above to ignite. And if the wrong construction or materials have been used then it can lead to a serious blaze.

If you have reason to believe that your roof could present a fire risk, or you’re considering replacing the roof anyway then look into roofing companies that have a class A fire prevention rating.

Another thing to consider is any cladding you have had added to the exterior of your home. Take the tragic example of Grenfell Tower in London for example. When seventy-one people died in a fire involving a tower block. A fire started in one of the flats and quickly spread where combustible materials had unwittingly been added to the exterior cladding. Something to be aware of if you’re having work done to your home, or have had it done in the past.

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Fit smoke alarms and extinguishers

Finally, if the worst were to happen and a fire starts in your home, you want to be aware of it. You need a smoke alarm on each floor. And you should be testing the batteries once a month by pressing the test button.

The sooner you (or your neighbors) are alerted if a fire starts when you aren’t home, the quicker you can reach for a fire extinguisher or call for help depending on the size of the blaze.

Possibly one of the most devastating accidents to happen at home. You risk death, serious damage to your building and possessions and it can even affect your neighbors. Do what you can to avoid fires at all costs.

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