No one wants to have to deal with a fire in their living space, but unfortunately this is something that happens hundreds of thousands of times per year in the United States. This goes for everyone in every living situation from the largest mansion to the smallest apartment.
If you’re one of the more than 100,000,000 million Americans who live in an apartment or rental unit, there are specific actions you can take to cut down on the odds of a fire breaking out and to handle the situation if a fire does occur. Here are some tips:
Be Careful in the Kitchen
Cooking is, by far, the leading cause of apartment-related fires. The good news is you can cut down on the likelihood of this happening to you by doing simple things like never leaving the stovetops unattended, being careful when cooking with oil and grease, following all air fryer safety tips, and keeping combustible materials away from flames.
Heaters and Candles
During the winter, many people try to make their home warmer both literally and in a manner of ambiance. Space heaters are a good way to warm up a certain area, but it’s important to leave three feet of clearance between the heater and all other objects. Candles, meanwhile, are nice decorative touch through the fall and winter especially. But be sure to blow them out when you leave the room and never light them near curtains or other flammable materials.
Be Well Equipped
Unfortunately, you can’t avoid fires 100% of the time, especially when you’re sharing a building with people you have no control over. That’s why it’s so important that you have working smoke detectors that you check from time to time. You’ll want them scattered through the apartment, especially near the sleeping areas. And you should change the batteries every six months.
It’s also a good idea to have a fire extinguisher handy in case a small fire breaks out, potentially in the kitchen. If your apartment doesn’t come with one, purchase one for yourself and keep it in a safe place nearby.
And, as a last line of defense, consider purchasing Fire Tech’s residential sprinkler systems. Our experienced professionals will install the system that works best for your building. Contact us today for a free estimate.