Every 23 seconds a fire department in the United States is responding to a fire.

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Every 23 seconds a fire department in the United States is responding to a fire. The results are often devastating, from destruction of property to serious injuries and loss of life. But many fires are preventable with proper preparation and precaution.

October is Fire Prevention Month, making it the perfect time to re-examine how prepared your household is in the unfortunate event of a fire.

Protecting your family and your home from a fire starts with installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.

Test your smoke alarms every month. If they aren’t working, be sure to change the batteries.

Check the manufactured date on the back of your smoke alarm and replace every 10 years.

Talk with your household about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.

Ensure everyone in the home knows how to call 9-1-1.

Do not leave candles, space heaters or active fireplaces unattended, and double check that all are properly extinguished or turned off when you leave the house or go to bed.

Of course, accidents happen and even the most prepared homes can still experience a fire. If a fire occurs in your home be sure to get out, stay out, and call for help. DO NOT go back inside for any reason. When you regain access to your property, go through your home and document all your possessions that were damaged or destroyed. Call your broker or independent agent immediately to expedite any claims you may have.

Remember that if your neighbor had a fire your home still may have been impacted by the extreme heat, so you will need to have it thoroughly inspected by an experienced and qualified professional such as a contactor or structural engineer.

These smart habits will not only test your preparedness, but will also help you prevent excessive damage or loss. Keep in mind that when disaster strikes, the time to prepare has long passed.

Please Note: This content is not intended to describe any specific coverage offered by MAPFRE Insurance. No coverage is provided, bound or guaranteed by this article. Available coverages, credits and discounts vary from state to state and are subject to eligibility criteria and policy terms/conditions, which will control in the event of conflict between this article and your insurance policy. For information about your policy, please review your individual policy contract and speak with your insurance representative.

MAPFRE Insurance® is a brand and service mark of MAPFRE U.S.A. Corp. and its affiliates, including American Commerce Insurance CompanySM (Cal. COA 4928-8), Citation Insurance Company^SM, The Commerce Insurance Company^SM, Commerce West Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 1372-2), MAPFRE Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 3039-5), and MAPFRE Insurance Company of Florida^SM.

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