Reduce Fire Hazards by Making Household Chores a Habit | SERVPRO® of New Center/Highland Park

The American Red Cross has already recorded 20,000 house fires and 847 deaths since the beginning of January. Since the beginning of 2022, 52 people have died as a result of fires in Michigan alone. It is critical to have safety measures in place in your New Center/Highland Park home to avoid tragedies.

Because fires can start in any room of the house, it’s critical to keep every room clean. Maintaining appliances and clearing out clutter inside and outside your home might help to minimize the spread of fire:

Clear the Clutter

Clutter gathers fast in the home, especially if you live with others. Clothes and blankets piled up about the house can obstruct potential exit routes in the case of a fire. Additionally, if a firefighter needed to enter your home, any clutter blocking walkways would make reaching you difficult.

Be sure to remove any loose single-use batteries, scratch paper, unused appliances or cardboard boxes from your home. In a fire, trash and unused appliances around the house could further fuel the flames.

Keeping clutter to a minimum in the home is an effective strategy to lessen the threat of fires. Making household chores a habit is not only an effective way to keep your house tidy, but it may also help you save your life.

Create a Defensible Space in Your Yard

In the wake of wildfires, California created a law to impose defensible space zones, which require properties to have carefully planned out yards to prevent the spread of external fires from reaching the inside of the home. While wildfires in our area aren’t nearly as common, this is still a good approach to landscaping.

Plant shrubs and trees a sufficient distance away from your house, and keep any branches near your house trimmed. Clean up any dead leaves and branches as well; if a fire starts, these materials will feed the flame.

A well-kept and well-planned yard can considerably help reduce the likelihood of any outside fires reaching your door. A tidy yard would act as a barrier in the event of a wildfire or any other fire that started outside the home.

Keep It Clean & Keep It Safe

Putting an emphasis on cleanliness around your home and yard could significantly lower the risk of fires. These minor tasks would be a huge help in the event of a fire.

You can keep the inside clean by cleaning appliances such as your refrigerator and oven. Also clean regularly around any heating apparatuses.

Dust bunnies are a lesser-known cause of house fires. Dust could start a fire if it comes into touch with an electrical socket or a space heater. Make a point of dusting about the house; it may seem minor, but it could have a big impact.

If you have experienced fire damage or want to learn more about our fire damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, ²⁴⁄₇.