Most Common Causes of Apartment Fires
Did you know that most apartment fires are caused by unattended cooking and improper use of appliances? Roughly 75,000 apartment fires happen every year.
If you’re looking for a refresher on how to prevent fire damage in your rental unit, keep reading!
5 Ways to Prevent Commercial Fire Damage
Here are five easy things you can implement regularly to make sure your commercial property is protected from potential fire risk.
1. Smoke outside
Are you a smoker? While the majority of new construction commercial buildings are smoke free, many offer smoke shelters or outdoor rules that allow for outdoor smoking.
The biggest thing for smokers in non-smoking buildings (and smoking buildings) is that it is very easy to fall into a bad habit of smoking within the unit anyways. Cigarettes are ignited paper product, and in a home unit, are typically sur rounded by very flammable products. By ensuring you never smoke inside, you mitigate any risk of a fire igniting within your unit by any stray ash or a butt that’s still hot.
2. Test your smoke detectors
One thing that is often overlooked by renters, particularly with those who have freshly moved in, is failing to test the smoke detectors. Most people choose only to deal with their smoke detectors when they are chirping, instead of intentional maintenance. In an emergency, you’re going to hope your smoke detectors work without fail.
It’s a good idea to exchange the batteries in your smoke detectors for fresh ones at least once a year. This ensures that your smoke detectors will always be in tip-top shape when you need them to work. You should also replace the smoke alarms themselves every 10 years so that the sensors stay in working condition.
3. Extinguish candles
It is unbelievably easy to accidentally fall asleep or leave home with a candle burning. While having a nice smelling home and ambiance are nice, it’s even more important to protect your home from fires.
If you find yourself struggling to remember to extinguish your candles, you can set a timer for 30 minutes or an hour to remind you to extinguish the candle. It’s also a good idea to snuff the candle with its lid—this way, the smoke and ash will be contained within the candle container and not exposed inside your home.
4. Don’t put matches in the trash
This might seem like a no-brainer, especially with the last point about candles. But, it goes without saying that throwing recently lit matches into the trash is a no-go. Recently lit matches can quickly burn a hole in the trash at best, and start a fire at worst.
Instead, get into the practice of dousing used matches into a cup of water to fully extinguish any remaining heat from them before throwing them into a plastic-lined garbage can. That way you can ensure you’re preventing fire damage before it has the opportunity to start.
5. Monitor your cooking
The most important way to prevent fires! As mentioned before, unattended cooking is the number one reason for commercial property fires. Especially if you have something in the oven. It is too easy to fall asleep or step out and forget that there is something baking in the oven. One wrong oil spatter or spark can quickly lead to an out of control fire.
The best way to prevent this? Don’t step away from the stove! If you find you have a hard time stepping away from the kitchen, make sure to set multiple timers to check on your food often.
6. Check your electrical outlets
It’s a good idea to check all your electrical outlets within your home or apartment. Make sure that you don’t have too many chords fighting for power in too little outlets. Plus, you should make sure your furniture is pulled at least six inches or a foot away from the closest outlet to prevent any potential sparks from a surge to start an electrical fire.
It’s worth reading about the causes of electrical fires because they are just as important as general fire prevention.
Still Worried about Fire Damage?
Maybe you’re renting a unit in an older commercial property, or perhaps you know yourself and some less-than-ideal living habits that may make fires more likely. The tips mentioned are the easiest way you can prevent a fire in your home, but not the only steps you can take.
If you’ve recently experienced fire damage, or maybe you’re interested in inspecting your home for electrical faults, then you’re likely looking at options to reverse (or prevent) the damage done. Our team of experts can walk you through the fire damage restoration process step-by-step, ensuring you are satisfied with the end result of the project.
