Whether one would want to admit it or not, preparing for house fires is essential. Not because you know or feel like it would happen but because you cannot deny the fact that some causes of fire are inevitable.
We can say that, indeed, prevention is better than cure. But what if you took all the precautions but still ended up suffering the disaster? What would you do during its occurrence?
This blog will discuss the essential steps we shall take during and after an American Fork fire.
During a House Fire: What Should I Do?
- Keep as calm as you so you can think straight. If you are calm, you can immediately tell what to do and where the fire exits are.
- Call the fire department right away. Make sure you have their contact numbers all the time.
- Crawl low and under any smoke to reach the exit by squatting down. Along the ceiling, the thick smoke and poisonous gases condense first so you can crawl your way out without inhaling too much smoke. If you can drape some wet blankets over yourself, do so.
- Feel the door and doorknob before opening it. Keep the door closed and use your backup exit if either is hot or if smoke is coming from the door.
- Stop immediately, get to the ground, and shield your face with your arms if your clothing catches fire. Roll back and forth or continuously until the fire has been extinguished.
- Inform firefighters right away if any other members of your family or pets are trapped in your house.
- Screaming aloud will alert other occupants of the home to a fire as soon as you see it starting. Do not rely solely on smoke detectors and alarms to warn others; they occasionally fail due to battery problems and other factors.
- Use your fire extinguisher as a one-stop preventative measure if the fire is not too large. This one action can put out the fire right away, but if it doesn’t work after you’ve used the fire extinguisher, leave the area right away.
After a House Fire: What Should I Do?
- Unless the authorities have told you it is safe to do so, you probably can’t stay in your own house, regardless of the extent of the damage. If staying with loved ones is not an option, inquire with your neighborhood disaster relief organization about possible lodging options.
- Even though your house is damaged and you might not be able to live there, you still need to take the best precautions to keep it safe from the elements and unauthorized intruders. You are welcome to look around your property, but don’t go inside until it is secure.
- Although it may seem obvious at the time, it is simple to become exhausted and disoriented and forget to complete even the most elementary tasks. If you weren’t by yourself when the fire broke out, check in to see how everyone is doing. No matter the age of those involved or the size of the fire, it can be a very traumatic experience.
- Calling your insurance provider should be your next move after getting in touch with your family. By doing so, the process of event documentation and insurance claim filing will get underway.
- Go through your belongings. In many cases, there are fixable items, especially if you save particular products or papers in a fire-resistant box. Any items that are not broken or destroyed should be out to safe and dry storage if necessary in order to keep them safe.
- Take care of the water damage. If you don’t act quickly to stop it, the water that firefighters use to put out the fires when they arrive may also lead to more water damage and mold growth.
