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Apartment fires represent a real, and luckily preventable, danger for any renter. In 2015, municipal fire departments recorded 95,000 apartment fires in the United States, which does not include fires reported to federal or state agencies. The true number of apartment fires that occurred throughout the year is likely to be much higher.
Staying vigilant and informed is crucial to preventing any mistakes that might lead to an apartment fire. Pets, children, personal belongings, and your life will be in jeopardy if fire safety standards aren’t met. Worse still, neighbors who lack fire prevention education can cause fires that have the potential to spread to your unit. Coming together as a rental community is the best way to ensure that everyone who lives there will be safe in their own home. Here are the top four fire prevention tips for keeping your home safe from the threat of apartment fires:
Keep Your Stove Free of Grease
Grease is a common cause of apartment fires, and because the grease acts as a fuel, they can spread very quickly. Moreover, these fires present extra danger, because water won’t put them out. Attempting to douse a grease fire will only cause the flames to spread. Covering the fire with baking soda and smothering it are the only ways to put out the greasy fire hazards. Fortunately, grease fire prevention is easy: keep your stove clean.
Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries Regularly
In the unfortunate event of a fire, your first priority is to get yourself to safety. Next, your mission should be to alert the appropriate fire authority. If you’re sleeping or away from home, however, a smoke alarm is your only means of alerting safety personnel. Clearly, proper maintenance of these devices is essential.
Older fire alarms need their batteries changed once or twice a year, while newer models can last up to ten years without a change. Either way, all models should be tested at least once per month to ensure that they are working properly. Setting aside just five minutes per month could save your life, as well as the residents in the adjacent apartments.
Monitor Electrical Cords
It’s a fact that extension cords take quite a bit of abuse. The same is starting to become true for computer and phone chargers. Our ever-present mobile phone chargers take a beating as they travel around the house, and world, with us. The frayed end of an iPhone charger is just as dangerous as a frayed extension cord. Treat your cords with care, and help prevent electrical fires.
Colorado Is Dry, Use Recreational Fire Safely
Colorado has an arid climate, and in most cases, this is a very attractive feature of living in our beautiful state. It’s easy to fall in love with the dry air and completely overlook the fact that it is a potential hazard. Remember, forest fires are a real possibility in the Boulder area.
Always make sure to contain sparks from fire pits or grills. This means paying attention while your fire burns, but most importantly, putting your fire completely out when you’re finished. Most importantly, never use fire when Boulder County has issued a burn moratorium.
No one should have to deal with the devastating effects of an apartment fire. Keep these four tips in mind, and share this information with those who live around you. If you’re looking for a Boulder apartment community that puts safety first, contact us. We would love to meet you and show you why Habitat Apartments is such a lovely place to call home.