How to Protect Your Home in Case of a House Fire

June 6th, 2017

House fires are a scary prospect, and can happen to anyone. Ask anyone that has had the dismay of experiencing a fire at home and they will tell you it was one of the last things they expected would happen to them. While we often remember the obvious things, such as turning the stove off after you’ve finished cooking, there are a number of other smaller details that are often forgotten about and, without careful thought, can lead to a house fire. It is estimated that within Australia, there are around 50 deaths a year which are the result of an accidental house fire. With over 11,000 residential fires happening each year, it’s time to have a think about your home, and what you can do to reduce the risk of house fires.

Causes of house fires

There are a number of reasons why we see so many house fires each and every year. Some of the most common causes are due to the incorrect use of appliances, candles being left unattended and faulty or damaged wiring in the home. But, more than half of residential house fires are started in the kitchen. It’s for this reason that one of your main priorities for fire safety in the home starts in the kitchen.

Fire safety in the kitchen

There are a number of things you can do to ensure that your home is safe from unnecessary and accidental fires from occurring in the kitchen.

Always keep children away from hot plates, stovetops and ovens while cooking and never leave kids unattended in the kitchen area. Along with this, turn pots and pan handles inwards so they cannot be overturned or reached by small hands. When cooking, ensure you switch off all cooking appliances after usage.
Make it a habit to routinely tidy up kitchen appliances and check that they are not faulty. If you see damage or fault, get the appliance repaired by an expert or replace the appliance.
Never try to heat metal in a microwave. Any type of metal such as crockery or utensils, including metal bowls, metal foil or twist ties. Only use microwave-safe containers that state they are safe to use in a microwave (it’s important to note that some plastics are not microwave-safe).
In the event of a fire in your microwave, turn it off straight away and unplug the power cable if it safe for you to do so. Keep the door of the microwave closed until the fire is completely diminished.

For the rest of your home

There are a few areas of the home you can look at to ensure they are safe from fires.

You may have to hire someone who is experienced in electrical wiring in the home, plumbing (gas), heating, and cooling to make sure that it is thoroughly inspected.
Take a look in your attic (if you have one) and roof spaces for electrical wiring which has been eaten away by insects or bugs. Some older circuitry is insulated with a material which insects love to chew on. Possums or even rodents will frequently chew the thermoplastic insulation off of wiring in the home, so it’s always important to ensure your pest control is up to date and your wiring is in good condition.
Inspect the natural gas/LP gas system in your home. You will want to try to find loose fittings, leaking valves or any other damage to your gas fittings. Make sure to keep flammable products in locations that are away from these home/gas appliances. Have the gas pipes or valves inspected by a professional whenever you smell gas or suspect a leakage.

Recognising hazards around your home

Burning particles can be carried by strong winds that accompany bushfires. These embers can enter your home through small openings such as vents, or might be big enough to break windows and ignite drapes and furniture. Embers can also damage and catch fire to flammable products outside of your home causing a small fire (also known as an ‘area fire´). If this fire occurs in an area such as on a wooden deck, doormat or somewhere you’re storing firewood, it could grow large enough to engulf your home. The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to walk around your home and determine areas that could be an issue.

All combustible material that is within 20 metres of your home should be eliminated. This includes the removal of dead branches, fallen leaves and making sure your lawn is always kept short. Long grass, especially in dry seasons, can cause a fire hazard.
Prepare a 20 metre fire ‘defense zone’ around your home to decrease the danger from radiant heat and sparks in the event of a local fire. The best way to do this is to establish a landscaped garden or vegetable garden and mow your grass consistently, as well as build large paths, paving or driveways that can supply cut off areas for fire to move through.

Set up fire and emergency escapes

Due to the fact that fire safety is a real issue, setting up fire and emergency escapes in the home is an ideal method to guarantee your family remains safe.

Emergency escapes installed in the home use an easy unlock latch to allow for a fast exit. With extremely strong screens, fire escapes provide both a practical product that also has your household’s security in mind. Many escape products include external swinging, inward swinging and sliding escapes. When choosing items such as these, it’s always best to choose products that satisfy fire safety tests. Secureview stainless-steel doors and security screens meet the Bushfire Protection and Fire Attenuation Test to ensure they’re of high quality and will be the very best choice for keeping your home and family safe from fires.

Keeping your family safe from fires

It should be of high importance to make sure your home is safe from fires. It’s not only a relatively easy project, but you can also have peace of mind knowing that your family is safe in the event of an accidental fire. With the right products installed in your home, regular inspections and proper maintenance, you will be able to provide a safer home for you and your family.