Avoid Fire Damage Emergencies this Valentine's Day

2/15/2021 (Permalink)

Avoid Fire Damage Emergencies

While fire emergencies can result from multiple causes, there is never a convenient time or occasion to deal with fire damage. Although, according to data, fire departments across the country respond to home fire emergencies every 86 seconds on average, there are different preventive measures people can take to avoid such emergencies in different scenarios or on special occasions, including Valentine’s Day.

At SERVPRO of Martin County, we want to make sure that the only flame burning bright in your life is the flame of love. To make safety a priority on this special occasion, here are four safety tips to help you avoid fire damage on Valentine’s Day:

• Candle management: when using candles to decorate a room or a dinner table, there are a number of things to consider whenever evaluating risk. From the type of candles, candleholders and the stability of surfaces, to the presence of kids or pets moving around the house, it is important to evaluate whether using open-flame candles is safe enough in your current living conditions. If using candles, keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn (drapes, blankets, loose paper, decorative items) and avoid leaving them unattended, while extinguishing them before leaving the room. For safer options, consider battery-operated candles that can give a similar look compared to the real ones.

• Consider decorations: although mylar helium balloons can be a beautiful way to decorate your Valentine’s dinner, you need to secure them by making sure they can’t fly away. The outer material of these balloons conducts electricity, which can make them explode when in contact with power lines. The effects could be as small as sparks or as big as knocking down a power line, creating an outage.

• Cook safely: according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), 50% of house fires start in the kitchen. Fire resulting from unattended cooking is the most frequent cause of residential fires. For Valentine’s Day, practice safe cooking tips from beginning to end, including cleaning appliances thoroughly before using them, not leaving food unattended or leaving the kitchen when frying or broiling. Be sure your oven and stove are far enough away from curtains and other flammable materials.

• Check out your heaters and smoke detectors: when doing preparations for Valentine’s Day, it is important to inspect the proper functioning of devices that can either cause a fire or detect fire on any level. If using portable heaters, give them enough space by ensuring they are at least 3 feet away from window curtains, furniture, sheets or any decorative items susceptible to heat. Also, make sure you check out your smoke detectors before cooking to ensure that they are in good condition.  Fix any installation issues and change the batteries if needed.

If an emergency takes place and restoration services are needed, SERVPRO´s fire and water damage cleanup team is professionally trained and equipped to restore all spaces to an even better condition they were in before the fire. If you are a home resident of Palm City, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, St. Lucie County, Hobe Sound or Port St. Lucie, SERVPRO of Martin County has mitigation and cleaning services and a team of professionals available and ready to assist you whenever needed.  Call us today at (772) 334-8762.