Every October is designated as Fire Prevention Month – a month-long opportunity to raise awareness about the potential damage that fire can cause, as well highlight the ways your entire family can stay safe from house fires in your residence.
Over the course of the month, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and other organizations encourage families to learn about the dangers of fire and fire prevention. In honor of this important initiative, ServiceMaster Cleaning & Restoration Services offers a basic guide to how fires start at your home, important fire statistics every homeowner should be aware of, the many ways to prevent house fires, and what to do if you need fire damage restoration services.
The origin of Fire Prevention Month started from the Great Chicago Fire. In this disaster, over 250 lives were lost and caused a staggering 100,000 people to become homeless in Chicago in 1871. Since then, there’s been an emphasis on raising a greater awareness of how fires can start at your home. As legend has it, the Great Chicago Fire started in a barn when a cow kicked over a lantern, but the reality is that household fires can start in a number of ways and from a variety of sources. Some of the most common causes of house fires include:
The following are some of the most important statistics to fully understand the cost of house fires:
In truth, many house fires that result in injury and death are completely preventable if only individuals had followed basic fire safety and prevention measures.
Before becoming another statistic, some of the most basic fire prevention and safety measures include:
While these are great guidelines to follow, they only are effective if your entire family is aware of how to prevent accidental house fires. Practicing fire safety at home involves the right mix of prevention, planning and action.
Here are a few tips to get your family started:
If your home is affected by fire or smoke damage, don’t hesitate to contact ServiceMaster Cleaning & Restoration Services. As a trusted disaster restoration company serving the Hunterdon, Middlesex, Mercer, and Somerset counties, ServiceMaster Cleaning & Restoration Services has been helping people get back on their feet with prompt and fire damage restoration for decades. Contact us today to learn more about our fire damage restoration and other services we can provide.