Smother Residential Fire Losses

Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Exposure to Residential Fires:

• Smoke Alarms: Install smoke alarms in various parts of your home, including bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. Homes with smoke alarms typically have a fire-related death rate that is 40 to 50 percent less than the rate in homes without alarms.
• Fire Extinguishers: Place fire extinguishers in several areas of the home, including the garage, the kitchen, and on each floor of the house. The potency of these extinguishers should be checked on a semiannual basis.
• Sprinkler System: For those about to build a new home, consider the installation of a sprinkler system. These systems have proven effective in suppressing most fires before the fire department arrives. In addition, they normally add only about 1 percent to the cost of a new home and last for the life of the home.
• Candles: Avoid leaving burning candles unattended. Fires often start when children, adults, and pets inadvertently overturn candles.
• Clothes Dryer: Properly maintain your clothes dryer, which is a big cause of fires in the United States. The dryer vent should be kept clean, the lint screen should be removed and cleaned after each use, and a qualified technician should periodically inspect gas clothes dryers.

Source: International Risk Management Institute, Inc.  Copyright 2015