Stop Drop and Roll for Your Home

A fire in your home is one of the scariest circumstances imaginable. Intense heat, smothering smoke, and dangerous flames could easily destroy your home within minutes in the right situation. Since your home should be a safe fortress, it's important to fortify it against catching on fire. Of course, the possibility of a fire can't be completely eliminated, but it can be greatly reduced if you follow the simple steps below.

It's Electric

One common cause of fires in the home is the misuse of electricity. Between 2010 and 2014, more than 45,000fires were started due to an electrical cause. These high numbers illustrate the absolute importance of taking care of your home's electrical systems. One way to do this is to have your home's wiring inspected if you notice any odd smells, sparks, or sounds coming from outlets, light fixtures, or switches. Any of these symptoms could indicate a severe problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

Another fairly simple check to perform is to ensure that none of your home's circuits are carrying too much of a load. This is especially important if you have specific, high-draw devices in use. One of the most common high-draw devices is an electric heater. Even small electric heaters can draw upwards of 12 amps. Considering a typical home circuit is only designed to provide 15 amps, you can see how you could quickly overload the circuit, resulting in a potential hazard. Try to distribute your electronic devices across multiple circuits so that no single circuit has to carry too much of a load.

Be Aware

Another great way to prevent fires from becoming too serious is to be aware of small fires before they have a chance to grow. The best way to do this, of course, is by utilizing a smoke detector. Smoke detectors should be placed on every level of your home, as well as in every bedroom. By having multiple smoke detectors, you will be more likely to receive early warning of a potentially dangerous situation. In some cases, you may be able to find the source of the fire and extinguish it with a fire extinguisher. This is a rare case, however, and typically if your smoke detector starts going off, it's best to evacuate your home as soon as possible and call the fire department.

Spray Away

It's likely you've seen sprinkler heads in nearly every public building you've entered. Did you know, however, that this same technology is available for the home? These systems work to immediately extinguish a fire as soon as the temperature rises high enough to cause the stopper pin to rupture.

In many situations, a system like this could literally make the difference between life and death, considering that you may only have three or four minutes to escape a burning home. These great systems also make a great compliment to a DIY home security system, since it allows you to combine an early alert system with a method to put out the fire as it's burning.

Know the Plan

Sometimes, despite the best preventative measures, home fires still occur. Since this is always a possibility, it's important to discuss a fire safety plan with each member of your family. This plan should include information about what to do if someone encounters a fire, where to go once they have evacuated the building, plus information about how to operate a fire extinguisher, if the individual is old enough.

In addition to discussing the plan, it's important to practice the plan on a regular basis so that it becomes almost second nature, which will aid in effectiveness during an emergency situation. Taking these steps in advance will ensure that everyone knows what to do if a true emergency occurs and can carry out that plan, even when faced with the fear that a house fire can produce.