There are numerous potential hazards in modern residential buildings which can result in unexpected fires. Unfortunately, most homeowners and their families are not equipped to deal with this type of emergency. This lack of preparedness can result in severe injuries and even fatalities. Moreover, the entire building and the stored assets could go up in flames quickly. If you would like to avoid such unfortunate circumstances, you should take precautions to prevent the occurrence or at least, the escalation of home fires. Also, you should ensure that your family will be safe if the worst does happen. Here are some essential guidelines on preparing for a residential fire.

Install and Test Smoke Alarms

You should install smoke alarms around your house. These devices are critical in identifying the presence of a fire in the property. Early detection is crucial in minimising the total damage and keeping your loved ones safe. Ideally, you should place these alarms in every part of the house, not only high-risk areas like kitchens. Also, you should make sure that the detectors have dual sensors. Dual sensors will identify both flaming and smouldering fires. Alarms can deteriorate or sustain damage over time. Therefore, you should test these elements on a regular basis. Replace the batteries as necessary and remove faulty devices for the safety of your home.

Purchase Fire Extinguishers

You should purchase fire suppression devices for your home. Typically, when home fires start, they are localised in a single area. If they are not controlled immediately, the flames will spread and damage the entire structure. Therefore, it is important for you to be equipped to suppress small fires before they escalate. For the best level of protection, you should install a fire extinguisher on every level of the house. The product should be placed in an easily accessible area for quick action. When choosing your extinguisher type, consider the most common fire hazard in the surrounding rooms. Fire blankets are also valuable and easy to use.

Establish an Escape Plan

Most families have not established an escape plan to help them deal with a fire emergency. Therefore, when the worst happens, individuals are left standing in a burning building due to confusion. Ideally, you should take the same measures that commercial buildings take to protect employees and other occupants. You should establish the best escape routes from each room for quick escape. Also, you should have a safe point to meet during the emergency. Finally, you should perform regular drills to ensure that everyone understands the plan.