6 simple habits to reduce your risk of a house fire
Negligence is involved in nearly half of all residential fires. However, by taking simple, practical steps every day, you can significantly reduce your risk. Here are six habits to adopt in your daily routine to help prevent a house fire.
Use a timer when cooking. It’ll prevent you from forgetting to turn off a burner if you get distracted.
Clean the kitchen as you go. Grease buildup on the range hood, oven or nearby surfaces can catch fire if overheated. Clean them immediately after you’ve finished cooking.
Fry food in a deep fryer. Using a pot of hot oil for frying food is quite dangerous. A simple spill can cause a fire.
Be careful with electrical connections. Never connect multiple extension cords together. Discard any cords that look damaged or emit abnormal heat.
Maintain your dryer correctly. Empty the lint filter before each use and clean the dryer vent periodically to prevent dangerous lint buildup.
Handle ashes with care. Do you have a wood stove? Place hot ashes in a closed metal container with a raised bottom and keep it outside.
Finally, don’t forget to purchase a fire extinguisher, if you haven’t already, and check your smoke detectors regularly.