Florida State Fire Marshalls Provides Tips To Avoid House Fires This Winter

1/7/2020 (Permalink)

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), heating is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires, deaths and injuries and December, January and February are the peak months for heating fires.

Here are some helpful tips from the Florida State Fire Marshall:

1. Keep objects away from heaters and fireplaces. Keep flammable objects at least three-feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

2. Keep fireplaces and chimneys clean. Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

3. Never leave a fire unattended. Remember to extinguish fireplaces and turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

4. Do not use your oven to heat your home. Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to your local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Use Carbon Monoxide detectors. Since carbon monoxide can be produced by a number of fuel-burning devices, it's important to have carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home. This will ensure every person in the home can hear and be alerted to the emergency.

If you do experience a fire know that SERVPRO of West Bradenton / Anna Maria can help you with your insurance company.

We work with your insurance.
For a stress free claims process, SERVPRO can help manage the insurance paperwork and process. Call for details (941) 792-7715.

Document the Damages
List all of the damages that you have incurred both structural and personal. Make sure you take photos of the damages, the date it occurred, type of loss and a written report if possible. Document any injuries and make sure you get the police report. When taking photos, it is best to include a general photo as well as close-up photos of specific damages.

Keep Receipts and Bills
The insurance company needs evidence to understand what to pay. If you have performed any minor repairs, keep the receipts so that the insurance company understands the original damages.

Keep the Evidence Intact
The adjustor uses the site of the accident to determine your compensation. So, don’t throw away any damaged items before the insurance adjustor has been at the site.

At SERVPRO of West Bradenton / Anna Maria, we are here to help you during a Fire Damage and the secondary Smoke and Water Damage. Give us a call if you live in Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, or Lakewood Ranch 941-792-7715.