Fire Safety Tips

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

October is the start of fall, so it's time to get ready for cool to cold weather.

Fire Safe October

Depending on who you ask, this is either Fire Safety Week or Fire Safety Month. It really doesn't matter how you look at it, though; being fire safe is important, and if you can get all your safety checks done in seven days or if it takes all thirty, just do it. There are many different organizations and companies to use as fire safety sources, so I will only list a few that I personally like.

First Alert

Yes, they have a vested interest in bringing this info to you, since smoke alarms are their primary product. That in no way lessens the great information on how to set up your house with the necessary detectors to keep you safe. Here is one link from them.

National Fire Prevention Association

The NFPA has some amazingly easy to read and share short fact sheets on fire prevention for your whole house. There is a section designed for kids and fire safety, and also one for kitchen and cooking, since kitchen fires are the most common type of residential fire. There are too many Fact Sheets to list, so here is the link to the entire bunch. Many are available in multiple languages, too. 

 

Other Common Maintenance

These are some really things to check. Most are inexpensive, compared to  the cost of replacing your house!

• Check your heating system and swap out your filter. 
• Look at your burner and connections to the fuel source.
• Check the fresh air source and exhaust vent/flue.
• If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove, check the flue and venting piping for clogs or soot build-up. 
• If you haven't checked the structure of your chimney, do that now.*
• If you own fire extinguishers, check them to see if there is powder showing in the nozzle (there shouldn't be any) and, if yours has an actual dial, if the pressure is still good.  

* A friend did serious damage to his house one week after moving in. While still unpacking, the fireplace was lit to give off a little warmth and 'mood' for the evening.  It turned out the previous owners burned a lot of resinous wood and when the next fire was lit there was a flue fire, damaging the chimney and setting fire to the roof.

Mart Cobra Emergency Fire Blanket

One relatively new thing I have seen, but never used, is a Fire Blanket.

https://amzn.to/46gFv89

From the Amazon ad:

• 2-PACK EMERGENCY FIRE BLANKETS FOR HOUSE FIRE SAFETY: Each fire resistant blanket cuts off oxygen with no mess unlike fire extinguishing spray. Fire blanket for people protection while camping or cooking in kitchen, home, grill, smoker, boat, or car.
• PREMIUM QUALITY: Flame retardant blanket made of woven 430+ GSM 100% fiberglass flame retardant fabric. Fire blanket roll resists temperatures up to 1076°F. Meets safety blanket standards set by CE and SGS. Fire retardant blankets for fire safety kit
• EASY TO USE: Pull down tabs on the fire proof blanket, spread the blanket to cover the fire, let the fire blanket fire suppression blanket suffocate the fire, then turn off the heat source. Can also be used to cover the body for fire survival.
• HOME FIRE BLANKET KIT: Fire proof blankets and resistant to high temperatures. Hang kitchen fire blanket on wall of a house or boat. Use as emergency survival blanket or fireproof blanket for grill. Safe to drape over adults, children, or pets.
• QUALITY GUARANTEE: Buy emergency blanket 2-pack fire retardant blanket with confidence! Blanket fire resistant is a fireproof blanket emergency blanket for car. Fireplace blanket, emergency survival blanket, fire extinguishers for the house kitchen.

Make Plans

Plan out what you are going to do in a fire: how you will evacuate, where to meet, if you live with others, what to grab on the way out, and who you need to notify if people are not home.

I will be re-posting my experience in what not to do in a fire next week. Stay safe, everyone.

 

 Recap and Takeaway

• Spend a few hours looking over your place. Even if nothing is wrong, you now have the peace of mind in knowing you are starting the season off prepared.
• While I have not used or seen one of these in person, the idea is interesting! One two-pack of Fire Prevention Blankets, orderable from Amazon, is $36.99 with Prime shipping. (Erin says: I own one and it is mounted in the kitchen in case of stove fires. I have fortunately never had to use one, so I have no review of it.)

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Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.