Preparing for unexpected events, like a fire, begins with effective emergency planning to protect your home, belongings, and loved ones. From understanding your insurance coverage to safeguarding vital documents and creating a solid escape plan, every proactive step helps reduce risks and provides peace of mind. With proper preparation, you can mitigate the devastating effects of a fire and focus on recovery. This blog offers essential fire safety practices and actionable strategies to secure what matters most.
Insurance
Meet with your insurance agent and know what your policy
coverage is. What is the replacement value for your home and
belongings? Does your policy cover the square footage of your
home, and the contents that are inside your home? What about
temporary housing? Adequate coverage is one of the most
overlooked details of insurance policies and is a crucial step
in emergency planning.
Important Documents
In the event of a fire, you will need to access and reference important documents.
Purchasing a fireproof safe is one of the best decisions you will make. Keep documents
in the safe such as your house title, insurance documents, birth certificates, marriage
certificates, passports, account information, social security cards, and anything else you
need to protect. You can get copies of most of these documents however, the process is
tedious and can be slow.
Photographs and Sentimental items.
We all know how priceless photographs, art, and other sentimental items can be. Take the
time to back up your photos to a cloud service or store them, along with cherished artwork
and keepsakes, in a fireproof box. If you experience a large fire, these items could be at risk
of permanent loss. For added preparation, take pictures of all the walls, drawers, and closets
inside your home to document the contents. This can be invaluable in emergency planning
and in detailing what is lost.
Investing in storage containers can also make a significant difference in what can be saved
during a disaster. Items stored in these containers are often protected from smoke and
water damage, greatly increasing the chances of preserving them.
Escape Plan
Have a plan in place in case of a fire. Always know two ways out of every room in your home. Plan ahead
with things like escape ladders for second and third-story windows. Place window stickers that list any pets in
the home so the firefighters can look for them in an emergency.
Close Before You Doze
Closing doors in the house can drastically slow down a fire which in turn can save your life. The temperature
difference between a closed-door room and an open-door room is as much as 1000 degrees. In addition,
the carbon monoxide content is extremely reduced in a closed-door room. If oxygen can’t easily feed the
fire, the fire is forced to move more slowly.
Lindstrom Restoration provides a burn demonstration trailer to fire departments for their open houses.
This demonstration shows firsthand the dramatic difference a closed door can make to the community.
For more information about our burn trailer visit our page dedicated to fire departments, board-up services,
and our burn demonstration trailer. Visit the Close Before You Doze campaign page for detailed information,
videos, and resources.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
Monthly tests should be performed to make sure the smoke alarms are working and the batteries are
good. The majority of deaths from fires occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Having a working fire
extinguisher in your kitchen is also helpful.
Next Steps
Taking proactive steps to safeguard your home and loved ones against the risk of fire is one of the best investments you can make in your peace of mind. Preparation can make all the difference from reviewing your insurance policy and protecting vital documents to creating an escape plan and maintaining smoke alarms. When disaster strikes, Lindstrom Restoration is here to help. Since 1953, we have been a trusted partner in restoring homes and businesses, offering compassionate care and comprehensive services tailored to your needs. With our team’s expertise and dedication, we guide you through every step of the restoration process, ensuring your home and life return to normal as quickly and seamlessly as possible.
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