With the amount of combustible material that’s likely to be present in your house, it’s important that you have fire extinguishers within reach to offer you some protection in the event a fire breaks out. A fire protection company in Dalton, GA can help outfit your home with the right number and type of fire extinguishers, as well as help you put them in the most effective places.
Everyone in your household should know where fire extinguishers are kept and how to use them. Below we will take a look at the most important places in your home where you should keep an extinguisher. They should be easily visible, with the label facing out and markers clearly indicating the date of their last inspection or service, and they should be easily accessible in the event of an emergency.
Kitchen
Because kitchens are the most common starting point for fires in residential settings, it’s crucial that you have a fire extinguisher located there. Cooking equipment is the leading cause of reported home fires and fire injuries, accounting for 46 percent of structure fires, 19 percent of fire deaths and 44 percent of fire injuries. Keep an extinguisher within 30 feet of the stove, just not in its immediate vicinity so flames or smoke do not block access.
Each floor
Ideally you should have a fire extinguisher on each floor of your home. So aside from your kitchen, find other sensible areas on each floor that make sense for you to place an extinguisher. This will help you prevent spread should a fire occur.
Close to heat sources
A significant percentage of home fires result from heating equipment, including fireplaces, chimneys, wood-burning stoves and certain types of tools or appliances. Any type of equipment you have that generates heat or involves combustion should have a fire extinguisher located nearby, just to be safe. As with your kitchen, the fire extinguisher should be kept a safe distance away from the source of the heat so it is accessible in an emergency situation.
In your garage
Garages frequently contain combustible materials like fuel, oil and cleaning products. It’s especially important to keep an extinguisher in your garage if you tend to work with tools or have a workshop in there so you can quickly quench any fires that start from those activities. This is important whether you have a separate or attached garage. Make sure your garage extinguisher is rated for flammable liquids.
Sleeping areas
Most fires that spread tend to be those that happen at night. This means you should have some protection around your bedrooms. Every bedroom in your home should have easy access to an extinguisher, even children’s bedrooms. This allows you to quickly get up and limit the spread of the fire in an emergency situation at night before things get too out of hand.
Interested in learning more about how you should use or place fire extinguishers in your home? The Carpet Capital Fire Protection Inc. team prides itself on high-quality customer service and outstanding fire protection. We encourage you to contact our fire protection company in Dalton, GA with any questions you have for us.