October is Fire Prevention Month, and while fire safety might not be the first thing on your mind as a homeowner, it’s incredibly important for keeping your home and your family safe. Whether it's preparing for the threat of wildfires or preventing house fires, being informed can make all the difference.

The Pendergraft Team is here to share some simple and practical tips so you know what to do if an emergency arises. 

Wildfire Preparation: Protecting Your Home from the Flames

Did you know? Wildfires burn millions of acres across the United States each year, with nearly 85% of wildfires being human-caused. However, preparing your home for a wildfire can greatly reduce the risk of damage.

Here are 5 tips to protect your home from wildfires:

1. Create a Defensible Space: Clear vegetation and flammable materials from at least 30 feet around your home. This helps slow the spread of fire and provides a buffer for firefighters.

2. Use Fire-Resistant Materials: When building or renovating, opt for fire-resistant materials for your roof, siding, and decking. Metal, tile, or asphalt shingles are safer choices than wood.

3. Keep Gutters and Roofs Clean: Regularly clear leaves, pine needles, and other debris from your gutters and roof. These can easily ignite and spread flames to your home.

4. Install Ember-Resistant Vents: Embers can enter your home through vents and ignite flammable materials inside. Install ember-resistant vents to keep these dangerous sparks out.

5. Maintain Your Landscaping: Trim trees and shrubs regularly, especially those close to your home. Ensure that tree branches are at least 10 feet away from your roof.

By taking these precautions, you can significantly lower the risk of your home being affected by a wildfire.

Fire Prevention Tips: Avoiding House Fires 

House fires are a serious threat, but many are preventable with a few simple precautions. If you want to keep your loved ones safe, start by being proactive.

Here are 7 essential tips to help prevent house fires:

1. Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms: Place smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of your home. Test them monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year.

2. Be Cautious with Cooking: Never leave the kitchen unattended while cooking, especially when using high heat. Keep flammable items like towels and paper away from the stove.

3. Keep Heating Equipment Safe: Ensure that space heaters are placed at least three feet away from anything flammable. Have your furnace inspected annually by a professional.

4. If You Have a Wood-Burining Fireplace or Stove: Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from your fireplace. Do not burn paper in your fireplace or wood stove. Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned each year by a professional.

5. Check Electrical Cords: Regularly inspect electrical cords for damage. Replace any that are frayed or worn, and never overload outlets or power strips.

6. Practice Safe Candle Use: Keep candles away from flammable objects, and never leave them unattended. Consider using flameless candles as a safer alternative.

7. Store Flammable Liquids Safely: Store gasoline, paint, and other flammable liquids in approved containers and keep them in a well-ventilated area away from living spaces.

8. Create a Fire Escape Plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows how to escape in case of a fire. Practice your plan regularly and identify at least two ways out of each room.

By implementing these tips, you can greatly reduce the chances of a fire starting in your home.

What to Do When a Fire Occurs: Staying Safe in an Emergency

According to the National Fire Protection Association, a house fire is reported every 93 seconds in the United States. While this statistic might sound alarming, knowing what to do during a fire can help you stay safe and minimize damage.

Here are 5 tips to follow if a fire breaks out in your home:

1. Get Out, Stay Out: The moment you detect a fire, prioritize getting everyone out of the house immediately. Do not try to gather belongings—your safety is the most important. Once outside, do not re-enter the house.

2. Call 911: As soon as you are safe, call 911 to report the fire. Provide as much information as possible about the location and extent of the fire.

3. Stop, Drop, and Roll: If your clothes catch fire, remember to stop, drop to the ground, and roll to extinguish the flames. Cover your face with your hands to protect it while rolling.

4. Stay Low: Smoke rises, so when escaping a fire, stay low to the ground to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. Crawl if necessary to keep below the smoke level.

5. Close Doors Behind You: If possible, close doors as you leave. This can help contain the fire and slow its spread.

Fire safety is all about preparation and prevention. By taking these steps to safeguard against house fires and wildfires, you’re helping to protect not just your property, but the lives of everyone in your household. 

Here at the Pendergraft Team, we understand that prevention goes a long way. Make sure to put in the time and effort to protect your real estate investment. Or, if you need a connection for home insurance agencies, we’d be happy to refer you to a trusted source.