Exterior Maintenance Tips to Prevent Fires This Spring & Summer
As spring approaches, we will begin to see warmer and warmer days. With that comes more and more outdoor activities. On the next nice day, take the opportunity to get out there and do some outdoor maintenance to your home to protect it from fires this season. Fire-proofing the areas around your house, can go a long way in prevent house fires and protecting you and your family.
Fireproof the Yard to Prevent Fires
- Remove any dead or dry vegetation - In the spring and fall especially, there can be a lot of dead and dry leaves, pine needles, pine cones, branches, and weeds strewn across your yard. Dry vegetation is highly flammable and should be removed on a routine basis. If they can’t be removed, at least thoroughly wet them down.
- Pay attention to plants near the house – Pine trees are common in Louisiana. In addition to the flammable pine needles when they fall and dry out, the sap is flammable. If you have pine trees near the house, you should either move them away or at least trim back the branches.
- Check your lawn – Most lawns dry out during the winter months and go dormant. To fireproof your yard, you should keep the grass cut short and water it regularly.
- Store away flammable fluids – Fluids like the fuel that powers your lawn mower and the gas that ignites your gas grill should be safety stored away when not in use. It is important to make flammable fluids are not near open flames.
Clean the Gutters to Protect your House from Fires
Keep your gutters clean and free of debris! Clogged gutters can exacerbate or even cause house fires. The dry, organic debris trapped in the gutter makes it an accelerant. All it takes is a small ember from a fire in a fireplace, a nearby grill or even a lit cigarette to ignite the dried leaves, branches, pine needles or other gutter debris. Once lit, your home will be quickly engulfed in flames. Louisiana homeowners should make it a habit to routinely check and clean all gutters.
Always Be Prepared for a Fire
We are a fan of notion that, “if you prepare for the worse, the worse may never happen.” Keeping with that idea, it is important to always be prepared for a fire. Hopefully, you will never need to touch your fire extinguisher or use your fire escape plan, but at the very least you have it to make sure your family is safe should something happen.
- Install and maintain your fire alarms.
- Invest in a fire extinguisher (or a couple). Keep it readily available and accessible.
- Develop an Emergency Home Fire Escape Plan and review it with your family.
- Keep all exits and escape route clean and clear at all times.
- Make sure fire trucks and other emergency vehicles can access your home in case of an emergency.
- Pay attention to flammable fluids and store them away from open flames.
- Remove or dispose of flammable items – throw away unused cardboard, trash or other flammable products that are no longer in use.
- Be careful where you smoke and make sure butts are completely extinguished before disposing.
- Keep important documents safe and readily accessible
- Keep photos of the inside and outside of your home and property in case you need the documentation for an insurance claim if a fire happens.
Call DryMax Restoration for Fire and Smoke Damage Cleanup in Louisiana
If you experience a house fire, the damage could be devastating. It can make you feel like you’ll never get back to normal. Luckily, fire damage restoration companies like DryMax Restoration are ready and able to help. Our experienced team of fire damage restoration specialists in Ville Platte have spent years helping local property owners with their damage restoration needs. Regardless if is light soot damage and smoke odors or substantial structural damage – our technicians can provide the restoration services needed to return clean and safe conditions.
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