Our customer’s safety and peace of mind are essential to us. During Fire Prevention Month in October and all year long, we want to ensure you and your family have an escape plan should a fire break out at your home and that you take adequate safety measures to prevent tragedies. More importantly, we would like to share some tips and tricks in hopes that you can prevent a fire from ever occurring.
Fires can happen in any part of the house, but the basement is one of the most dangerous areas. If you have a basement, having little to no windows and having only one point of entry could make it difficult to escape and for firefighters to fight flames. MAPFRE and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) have several tips to keep you and your loved ones safe from basement fires.
If someone smokes in your house, it’s critical they dispose of smoking materials properly as improper disposal of smoking materials is one of the leading causes of structure fires and related deaths and injuries in the United States. Here are a few recommendations regarding the proper disposal of smoking materials.
Garages are another place where fires spread and cause more damage than other home areas due to flammable liquids, combustibles, electrical tools, and gas appliances inside. Learn how to safeguard your garage from a fire before a tragedy occurs.
Home fires occur more during the winter than any other season, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NPA). Whether your family is gathered around the fireplace or wood stove, the NFPA and the USFA want you to be aware of some heating device safety tips.
Over the years, fire pits have become “must haves” in backyards nationwide. Whether you want one for aesthetics or to keep warm on a chilly night, there are significant safety considerations to take into account for your family and pets. Before lighting up your fire pit, you will want to ensure your fire does not get out of control and here are a few fire pit safety tips to help reduce the risk of igniting your home and nearby surroundings.
Space heaters are associated with an estimated 21,800 residential fires every year. In addition to those fires, fuel-burning space heaters also have the potential to cause carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper ventilation. If you have to use one, there are several space heater safety recommendations you should follow.
And no matter what time of the year, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are a must for your home. According to a report by the NFPA, almost three out of five fire fatalities happen in properties with no alarms or where alarms failed to operate. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has several recommendations to make sure your home smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are correctly installed and maintained.
We hope you found these safety tips helpful. If you’re not exactly sure what your home insurance policy covers, an independent agent in your state can always review it with you to make sure you have the right coverage to suit your individualized needs. And if you are not a MAPFRE customer in Massachusetts yet, you can always get a fast, free insurance quote online today to get outstanding coverage at a great price.
