Preventing a Fire in your Texas Apartment

1/30/2020 (Permalink)

A fire in a small space, such as your apartment, can spread quickly and become a deadly fire within just a few minutes.

A fire in a small space, such as your apartment, can spread quickly and become a deadly fire within just a few minutes. Just a few precautions taken beforehand can protect you, your apartment, and your belongings. Today, we’d like to share some fire prevention tips with you:

• Inspection First. Take a good look around your home to make sure all potential hazards have been identified and eliminated:
• Use surge protectors in place of overloaded circuits or extension cords
• Appliance cords that are frayed or cracked are replaced immediately
• No cords are being extended under rugs or between rooms
• Space heaters are not being used near flammable materials, such as furniture and drapery. Make sure your space heaters are always turned off when the room is empty or everyone is going to bed
• No matches or lighters are within reach of children
• Candles and incense are never left unattended - make sure these items are used far away from curtains and other flammable materials
• Items such as gasoline cans or propane tanks are not stored inside your apartment 

• Kitchen Safety:   
• Never leave food cooking on your stove unattended
• Keep towels and potholders away from cooking areas
• Don’t wear loosely fitted sleeves while cooking

• Laundry Room Safety
• Have your dryer installed and serviced by professionals
• Always use a lint filter in your dryer, and clean it before or after every load 
• Remove lint that collects around the drum of your dryer regularly
• Make sure the right plug and outlet are being used and that your machine is connected properly
• Never leave the dryer running when you go out of the apartment or when you go to bed

• Smoke Alarms
• Make sure there are smoke alarms in your apartment, and that they function correctly. There should be one installed outside of every sleeping area, and they should be tested once a month, with batteries changed at least once a year. 

Here at SERVPRO of North Richland Hills we are fire safety experts, and we are here for you if you experience damage from a fire, as well.