Fire Prevention Tips for Fire Prevention Week October 4-8

Fire Prevention Week for 2017 is observed from October 4 – 8. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were nearly 381,000 residential fires which resulted in more than $7 million dollars in damage and 2,565 deaths in 2015. Help protect your tenants and your rental property by observing the following fire prevention tips.

1. Establish tenant fire procedures

Provide a fire extinguish for use in your rental property and make sure your tenants know how to use it. Distinguish between the different types of fires in order to ensure that they know that grease fires need to be smothered out using something non-flammable such as the lid of a pan. Adding liquid to such a fire can make it explosive.

2. Check the smoke detectors

It’s a fact: smoke detectors save lives. The U.S. Fire Administration’s data notes that three out of five deaths from home fires occurred in properties that didn’t have a working smoke detector. It’s recommended by the agency that all smoke detectors be tested on a monthly basis. In addition, be sure that the batteries are replaced two times each year.

3. Be cautious while grilling

Establish safe grilling procedures with your tenants to help ensure safety. Keep the grill a suitable distance away from the house as well as any other flammable materials. Keep the flames low and well controlled. Use caution with any fire accelerant as they can get out of hand quickly.

4. Establish a tenant smoking policy

In most cases, it’s best for your property if you establish a policy of no smoking within the home. Even outside the home, though, caution should be exercised when tenants smoke. Tenants should refrain from smoking when they are taking medication, have been drinking, are tired or another other instance when they could become drowsy. Even though the statistics note that accidents in the kitchen are most likely to result in fires, cigarette fires are more likely to cause death.

The above tips are only designed to be a guide to help your tenants stay safe. For more information, contact the local fire safety professionals.