How Do You Prepare Your Home for Fire Season?
Posted June 02, 2021 in Fire Protection
3 Minute Read:
The risk of a house fire is always present, especially if you live in a state prone to dry weather and wildfires like California. Just like anyone could be at risk of getting COVID-19, we could all be at risk of some form of disaster.
It is crucial to be prepared for any emergency, even if you do not think it could happen to you.
Hopefully, with these tips, we can help you get the most out of your insurance and protect what is important in your life. Contact us today at 951-368-0700 to learn more.
The Importance of Having a Fire Escape Plan in Place
Your family needs to prepare ahead of time and know how to respond to any situation. A good solid household evacuation plan where everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire will improve your chances of reacting more quickly and safely.
This may not only save your family’s lives but also help firefighters put out a fire more quickly without worrying about rescuing anyone from a burning building.
What Can I Do to Protect My Home and Belongings From Fire?
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.
Create a Defensible Space
If you live in a fire-prone area, creating a defensible space is a great way to slow the spread of fires, increasing the chances of your home surviving a wildfire. Radiant heat from a severe wildfire, for instance, can ignite a house from up to 100 feet away, especially if there is enough combustible material in the way.
You may, therefore, want to safeguard the area around your home by clearing all debris and combustible materials, pruning low-hanging tree branches, spacing out plants, or any other strategy that helps prevent flames from approaching your home.
Teach Safety
First and foremost, talk with children about how to recognize the signs of a fire and where to go in case of an emergency. Teach the basics of what to do in a fire scenario, such as staying low to the floor if there is smoke in the room, feeling doorknobs for heat before touching them, sticking to the evacuation plan, etc.
Besides teaching, practice your escape plan every once in a while to become familiar with what to do.
Install Smoke Alarms
Install the correct number of smoke alarms around the house and ensure your family members recognize what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear them.
Prepare Your Insurance
Remember to get your finances and property ready for fires with adequate insurance coverage. You want to ensure that your policy limits reflect the correct coverage for all your needs.
While your existing homeowners’ insurance policy may offer substantial insurance liability limits, it may not be adequate to cover some of your high-value items. A personal liability umbrella policy can help provide complete protection for your home.