October is Fire Prevention Month and the perfect time to remind you to take a few simple measures to keep your homes and loved ones safe. In 2021, local fire departments responded to approximately 1.35 million fires in the United States, resulting in an estimated $15.9 billion in property loss.
The National Fire Protection Association encourages homeowners to check their smoke alarms and change batteries to ensure they are working, and also develop an escape plan in the event of a fire.
Besides inspecting smoke alarms, your policyholders should consider these tips to avoid the common causes of home fires:
- Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food. Turn off the stove if leaving the kitchen for even a short period of time, and don't leave oven-mits near burners.
- Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off and unplug when leaving a room.
- Only plug one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) into a receptacle outlet at a time.
- Install smoke alarms on each floor of your home or business. Store fire extinguishers within reach in the kitchen and utility areas.
- Schedule annual service and cleaning of furnaces, heating systems, chimneys and fireplaces.
- Avoid overloading electrical circuits. Check extension cords, fuse boxes and circuit breakers, making certain to avoid a combination of appliances exceeding 1500 watts on the same circuit.
- Keep lithium-ion batteries out of high temperatures and only use the charger that came with the battery.