This month I’m inviting Texas renters and homeowners to think about fire safety in the home. According to fire data, you may have less than three minutes to exit your home should a fire occur. Now is the time to make a safety plan and to check if you have these safety practices in place in your home.

Fire Prevention Week is observed the first week of October. During the month when you drive past a local elementary school around the Houston area you may notice groups of children surrounding an engine where the firefighters are pointing out various things on the apparatus or teach safety lesson to “stop, drop, and roll.” The area firefighters are working hard to bring additional education into the classrooms and teach fire safety from a young age. Lives are saved through awareness and prevention.  

6 Safety Checks Every Houston Home Should Never Ignore

Safety Check 1: Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Alarms

One of your first and best preventions is being alerted to a smoke or fire hazard. Smoke alarms should be placed on each level of the home and outside of bedrooms. Get in the habit of checking your alarms regularly. Checking monthly is not too often. Some alarms operate by battery and others are hardwired to your electrical system. Any alarm older than 10 years should be replaced with a newer version.

Carbon monoxide is odorless and dangerous making this type of detector especially helpful in alerting you to a problem. Alarms should be placed on each level of the home but not beside smoke alarms. Any alarm older than 7 years should be replaced.

Safety Check 2: Have an Exit Plan

Choose a safe meeting place location outside the home for all family members to meet. It could be a tree, the swing set, or beside the fence located a safe distance from the home. Just as children practice fire drills in the classroom, do a practice drill in your home. Stage family members in different locations and remind them to get out first and make their way to the safe location. And most importantly, once outside do not return to inside the home. If something or someone is forgotten, wait for the trained fire professionals who have the right equipment to conduct searches safely. More lives are lost from those re-entering a home without proper safety equipment. Smoke and heat conditions intensify fast.

Safety Check 3: Candles

Candles are among one of the leading ways an accidental fire begins. For this reason, place candles in sturdy fire-proof containers which can’t be tipped over. Before going to bed adults should blow out all candles when they leave the room. Lit candles should be kept out of reach of both pets and children. It’s natural for children to be curious about fire. Fire officials suggest keeping matches and lighters out of reach and, if possible, in a locked area to avoid any temptation.

Safety Check 4: Cooking Safety

A kitchen fire can quickly escalate should you walk away from what you’re cooking on the stove or should an appliance have an issue. Make it a rule to never leave the kitchen when cooking, grilling, frying, boiling, or broiling foods. The same applies to grilling outdoors. Keep potholders and hot pads away from cooktops to prevent burns. After the oven cools, clean any spills to avoid food build up which could start a fire.  

Safety Check 5: Electrical & Appliance Safety

As you check each room in your home, pay attention to the wall plug outlets and the condition of electrical cords. Outlets are safe and should never feel warm to the touch. If an outlet feels warm contact an electrician and turn off the breaker to that outlet. If the wall around the outlet feels warm, call 911. Make it a habit to remove dryer lint after each use to keep any build up as low as possible. If you have young pets prone to chewing, give electrical cords a thorough check to ensure nothing is fraying, cracked, or broken leading to an electrical short. Make plans to have a professional clean and service your heating and air conditioning system annually as well as clean and replacing air filters.

Safety Check 6: Fire Extinguisher

Have at least one extinguisher on each level of the home and especially in the kitchen, the laundry room, and the garage. Practice with each family member so everyone understands how to use an extinguisher. Fires are fast and having an extinguisher nearby is one of your best defenses.  

There is nothing more devasting than losing everything in a home fire which could have been prevented. When you practice fire safety in your home you are protecting yourself and your family members. For more tips on fire safety reach out to your local fire department. We have 32 fire departments and stations in Fort Bend County and 218 fire departments and stations in Harris County.

Since 2004 Sara Lyn Nguyen continues to bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling real estate around the Houston area to those she serves. Sara is a multi-year award winning REALTOR® and relocation specialist where her clients trust her to have up-to-date information on the real estate market. She has been one of Gary Greene’s Multi-Million Dollar Top Producers and was the #2 Top Producing agent in 2020 citywide. When it’s time to buy, sell, invest, or relocate speak with a trusted professional knowledgeable in the homes and neighborhoods of Fort Bend/Sugar Land and the surrounding region.