How to prevent fire in the home

Although vital for human life, natural elements like water and fire can wreak havoc if allowed to spiral out of control. Just as it’s important to protect your home from flooding in the wetter months, you should also put measures in place to prevent fire in the home, not just throughout the summer season, but all year round.

The different classes of fire

Fire requires oxygen, heat and fuel to start and sustain itself. There are four classes of fire that you may be at risk of at home, each with a different fuel source. Fire is classified in this way because different fuel sources require different methods to extinguish.

Class A – Class A fire is fuelled by solid, combustible materials like wood, fabric or even trash, and is the most common type of fire in the home. Small class A fires can often be extinguished by using water or smothering the flames.

Class B – When liquids or gasses, such as alcohol, gasoline or propane become fuel for a fire, it falls under Class B. Oxygen must be removed to extinguish Class B fires.

Class C – Class C fires are caused by electrical failures. Appliances or wiring within the home can spark and ignite nearby combustible materials, starting a Class C fire. Electrical fire can only be extinguished by non-conductive chemicals.

Class K – Class K fires are similar to Class B, but refer to fires fuelled by grease or oil from cooking. Class K fires can spread very quickly and be difficult to manage, and water should not be used in an attempt to extinguish them.

You should always put your safety first in the event of a fire at home. In an emergency, quickly evacuate the home and call 911.

How to prevent fire hazards at home

Every property should have ample smoke alarms installed in key areas, and these alarms should be regularly tested. Alongside this, you should have an emergency escape plan in place. As fire can rapidly spread throughout the home, you may not be able to exit via the main entrance ways. Having a backup plan could just save your life.

Smoke alarms and an escape plan are crucial in the event of a fire, but prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips on how to prevent fire at home.

Regularly maintain electrical appliances – Appliances like washers, dryers and refrigerators are manufactured to meet certain fire safety standards, but the nature of electricity means the risk is always there. Frequently inspect the cables of your electrical appliances for signs of damage, keep appliances free from dust, and regularly remove built-up lint from the dryer.

Use extension cords safely – They may be handy for increasing the number of outlets in a room or extending the length of cables, but extension cords can easily overheat when put under too much stress. You should never plug one extension cord into another, and be mindful of where you place them – running extension cords under rugs or furniture can cause them to overheat quickly.

Don’t leave open flames unattended – Fire has plenty of uses within the home, but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. If you cook using a gas stove, don’t leave it unattended whilst it’s on. If you have a fireplace or a log burner, make sure it’s fully extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed. If you enjoy burning candles, don’t place them close to flammables like fabrics, aerosols, cleaning agents or cooking oil, and extinguish them before leaving the room.

Regularly clean your stove, oven and hood – Grease build-up can present a big fire risk, especially in a kitchen environment where open flames are common. Keep your stove, oven and hood clean of grease, dust and food scraps.

Does homeowners insurance cover fire damage?

Your home is a valuable asset, and fire damage can be devastating. Most homeowners insurance policies will cover the cost of fire restoration if your home is damaged by fire, up to the policy limits. However, you are unlikely to be covered if the fire was caused intentionally by a member of your household.

Although some instances of fire are unavoidable, it’s important to put every possible measure into place to prevent fire at home.