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Home Fire Safety Tips

Jack-o-lanterns, turkey fryers, Christmas lights and trees – oh My!

Today, it officially feels like Fall in South Florida and it is a signal that the upcoming months pose many fire hazards.

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home, you may have just two minutes to escape?

According to the Red Cross, 60 percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

Before the merriment and frenzy of the holiday season begins…

Now’s a great time to dust off your home fire safety plan: test (or install!) smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers and review your family’s fire evacuation plan.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors:

Replace the batteries and test by pressing the test button or holding a smoke source (like a blown-out candle) near the unit.

Fire extinguishers:

Make sure it’s rated for all fire types (look for an A-B-C rating). Review the indicator on the pressure gauge to make sure the extinguisher is charged. Ensure that the lock pin is firmly in place and that the discharge nozzle is not clogged. Fire extinguishers should be replaced every six years.

Also, make sure nothing is blocking the fire extinguisher and you can access it easily.

Fire evacuation plan:

Determine an exit path for every bedroom, and make provisions (rope ladders, etc.) for bedrooms that are not on the main floor of the home. Establish a location away from the house where everyone should meet. Having a family’s fire evacuation plan could save your life!

Now that you are safe… let the fun begin.

We hope that you never need us to help restore your home after a disaster, but Leading Edge Homes, Inc. has done it many times. If you need help after a disaster or if you have questions about how to improve the safety of your home, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.

Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.