- On this episode of the Disaster Podcast, what are some fire safety and prevention tips you can use today? Stay tuned. A fire can be devastating, but with the proper preparation now you can not only reduce the chance of home fires, but dramatically increase your safety in the event one occurs. Did you know that it only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house and for fire to spread to other rooms and floors? Fire moves quickly and you may only have minutes to react. For this reason, the most effective way to protect your family and your home from fire is to identify fire hazards and take steps to remove the risk these hazards pose. By taking steps now, you can dramatically increase your safety in the event of a house fire. Install and test smoke detectors. 60% of all house fires occur in homes with no working smoke detectors. Smoke detectors should be installed on each level and in areas that are of high risk, such as furnace rooms and garages in order to ensure they're in good working order. Smoke detectors should be tested annually and the batteries changed. At least one carbon monoxide detector should be installed on each level as well. There are combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors available. Make sure you have fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers come in several varieties for specific uses. Make sure that you select the correct one for your needs. Kitchens, for instance, require fire extinguishers that are also able to extinguish grease fires. When placing fire extinguishers, consider where the highest risk of fire is, as well as where the fire extinguisher would be most easily reached in the event of an emergency. Fire extinguishers, for instance, should be kept in kitchens, garages, and basements as fires commonly begin in these areas. Make sure that occupants of the home are familiar and comfortable with the operation of fire extinguishers. Be careful with open flames. Open flames such as candles can easily ignite nearby items such as curtains or bedding, and should under no circumstances be allowed to burn down unsupervised. Most candle fires occur when they've been left to burn after someone has left or fallen asleep. Open flames should be completely extinguished if someone is not able to watch it and should be set far away from other items that they may potentially ignite. Set space heaters far away from other content items. Space heaters can get very hot, even ones that claim not to and should be placed at least 30 inches from other items. When in use, be particularly cautious of blankets, curtains, or bedding that may come in contact with or cover the space heater. Do not overload electrical outlets. If outlets are tripping circuit breakers or damaging fuses. Have this checked out by an electrician. Do not run extension cores under carpeting or through any other inaccessible areas. Check your dryer vent for lint buildup. Lint can build up in your dryer exhaust hose or behind the dryer. Check any areas where lint can build up regularly, at least annually, to ensure that any lint is cleaned up and the dryer exhaust hose is clear. Lint is incredibly flammable, making it important to take steps to prevent drier fires. Develop an escape plan. It's great to take steps to prevent fire, but it's also important to prepare for the possibility of a fire occurring in your home. The best way to do so is to plan an escape plan and designate a meeting place for your family after they get outside. Make sure everyone in the family knows the plan and go over it every so often to ensure that everyone remembers. Would you like to take control of your future and build a business you can be proud of? We can help. As a Disaster Blaster Franchise Partner, our industry experts will help you unlock the potential of the $210 billion restoration industry. Disaster Blaster offers the most revenue streams in the restoration industry, training and support from industry experts, a unique model primed for your success and more, call our franchise team today to learn more at 242-1042 or visit us on the web at www.DisasterBlasterFranchise.com. Stay tuned for some frequently asked questions, but while you're here, don't forget to Like and Subscribe. Are you prepared for a fire? While no one ever expects to have a home fire, it's always a good idea to prepare for the unexpected. Here are some of the most common questions about fire extinguishers. Do you know what type of fire extinguisher you need? There are several different classes of fire extinguishers that are all intended for specific uses. Class A fire extinguishers are intended for paper, wood, plastics, fabric, rubber, and trash fires. This is a general purpose fire extinguisher that is good for areas of the homes such as bedrooms and living rooms where special grease and oil fires are unlikely. Class B fire extinguishers are specially formulated for fires that involve gasoline, oil, grease, paint, and solvents. This is a special purpose fire extinguisher that is great for basements and garages. Class C fire extinguishers are intended for fires that involve electrical equipment, circuit breakers, computers, appliances, and wiring. This is an extremely special purpose fire extinguisher class that is generally reserved for commercial and industrial uses. Class K fire extinguishers are specially formulated for fires that involve cooking oils, animal fats, and vegetable oils. This is a special purpose fire extinguisher that is designed specifically for kitchen uses and is the perfect fire extinguisher to keep in home kitchens. Do you have the right fire extinguishers in your home? Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher? It's as simple as P-A-S-S P - pull the safety pin, A - aim at the base of the fire. S - squeeze the handle S - sweep from side to side. It's always recommended to go over with your family where fire extinguishers are kept as well as the proper use of them so that everyone is prepared in the event of an emergency. What are the most common causes of home fires in the United States? One, cooking. The leading cause of residential fires starting almost half of all home fires. Cooking fires happen at any time of the year, but are particularly common on holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the 4th of July. Two, heating. The second leading cause of residential fires. Heating system fires are most commonly the result of fireplaces or wood stoves that have not been properly cleaned or serviced or otherwise malfunction. Three, electrical systems. The third leading cause of home fires. Electrical systems that malfunction often result in fires inside walls or above ceilings. As a result, these fires are often not discovered right away and can be difficult to extinguish. Four, candles. While this is a surprise to many people, candle fires are extremely common and generally occur when a candle is left unattended, isn't extinguished fully, or is placed too close to combustible content items such as curtains or bedding. Five, smoking. Though only accounting for 2% of residential building fires, smoking is the leading cause of civilian home fire deaths. This high mortality rate is due to the fact that smoking fires are particularly common among the elderly and often occur when someone falls asleep with a lit cigarette. While we hope that you never experience a home fire, knowing some common causes allows you to be more aware of these risks.