HOW TO PREPARE
 By Mike Coviello (Tanner)

Everything you need to prepare for a house fire including a house fire checklist, house fire equipment and house fire supplies. Knowing how to prepare for a house fire can save your life.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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TannerTanner: Former aerospace engineer who specialized in hypergolic propellants. Hobbies include shooting zombies & reloading ammo.
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SURVIVAL CHECKLIST

DISASTER SCENARIOS

PREPARE YOUR HOME

PREPARE YOUR CAR

 

 

 

 

How To Prepare For A House Fire

More than 2,500 people die from house fires each year and over 2,600 are injured in the US.

 

 

 

 

House Fires Dangers

  1. Smoke Inhalation
  2. Inhaling super-hot air of a house fire can sear your lungs.
  3. Burning
  4. Injury/Death

 

How To Prepare For A House Fire

Knowing how to prepare for a house fire and taking all the right precautions to protect yourself and you loved ones can give you peace of mind. You should plan and make preparations well in advance of the house fire.

 

Equipment & Supplies You Need

Buy these items well before you have a house fire. 

  1. Emergency power generator (Emergency Generators )
  2. Survival kit/ bug out bags (Executive 72-hour Kit with Solar Upgrade)
  3. Only purchase fire fighting and fire prevention equipment that has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL).

 

Emergency Kits

Make, stock up or verify the fully stocked status of each of your emergency kits.

  1. Car back pack, car first aid kit (first aid kit ), auto tool kit (tool kit ) and car contents.
  2. Emergency evacuation backpack
  3. Food emergency kit
  4. Dog/pet emergency kit
  5. House Fire emergency Kit - (72-hour Survival Kits) Make sure your house fire kit includes: Flashlights & extra bulbs, Battery-operated radio, Battery-operated lanterns, Batteries (in different sizes!), Matches, First aid kit, Duct tape, Rain gear, Clock (wind-up or battery-powered), Plastic garbage bags, Fire extinguisher, Scissors, Can Opener, Clean clothes, Extra blankets, Heavy gloves.

 

Planning

  1. Make a house fire escape plan. Know when and what you are going to do in advance of an oncoming house fire.

  2. Make a family communications plan.

  3. Identify and pre-plan house fire evacuation routes. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you need to evacuate. Make sure there are two ways out of each room.

  4. Have a free house fire home inspection performed on you house to identify weakness and deficiencies in your house. You may qualify for a discount from you home insurance company.

  5. Make sure each member of your family knows what to do no matter where they are when an house fire occurs.

  6. Establish a meeting place where you can all reunite afterward.

  7. Make sure all family members know where your gas, electric and water main shutoff valves are and how to turn them off.

  8. Identify your closest fire and police stations and emergency medical facility.

  9. Coordinate your emergency house fire plans with your neighbors.

  10. TAKE Red Cross First Aid and CPR Training Course.

  11. Suggested Fire Drill Practice - Starting at various locations in you house, feel your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.

  12. Make sure everyone in the house knows how to unlock and open each window and door.

  13. Teach children not to hide from firefighters and rescue personnel.

 

 

Prepare Your House

  1. Inspect and operate each window and door in the house periodically. Make sure that windows and doors are not stuck.
  2. If your windows and doors have security bars make sure they have operable quick release devices to allow them to be opened immediately in an emergency.

 

Important Documents

Update important documents and place in a portable and fireproof container. As backup, scan and save your documents on a flash drive, website other secure storage system and store in a safe location. Update or take new pictures of yard, house, house contents and car contents and backup computer files. Email important documents to self or a friend.

  1. Photo copies of prescriptions
  2. Emergency preparedness manual
  3. Photo identification
  4. Proof of occupancy of residence (utility bills)
  5. Medical history or information
  6. Waterproof container for document storage
  7. Back-up disks of your home computer files
  8. Camera & film & spare batteries for camera
  9. Insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, copy of will, family records
  10. Important telephone numbers and contact information
  11. Inventory, pictures and receipts of valuable household goods

 

During The Fire

  1. If there is heavy smoke in the house, crawl under the smoke to an exit.
  2. Exit the house immediately when you hear the smoke detector.
  3. If you encounter a closed door as you exit the house feel the door and door knob first to see if it is hot or warm. Find another way out because there is fire on the other side.
  4. If you see smoke coming from the cracks in the doorway or below the closed door, find another way out.
  5. When you open a closed door, open it slowly and be prepared to close it quickly. Expect fire on the other side.
  6. Tell firefighters if there are pets inside the house.
  7. If you become trapped and cannot get out, call 911, close the door and do everything you can to prevent smoke intrusion into the room. (tuck clothing under the door, close/block vents, tape doorway cracks). Call and signal for help any way you can.
  8. If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll to put out the fire.
    -Stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands.
    -Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out.
  9. If someone else is on fire, smother the flames with a blanket or towel or force them to stop, drop and roll.
  10. Use cool water to treat the burn immediately for 3 to 5 minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth. Get medical help right away by calling 9-1-1 or the fire department.

 

After The Fire

  1. When you re-enter your house, use care and watch out for any structural damage cause by the fire or water.

  2. Notify your insurance company.

  3. Take pictures, lots of pictures of your damaged property.

  4. Conduct an inventory of your property. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made and your insurance company is notified.

  5. Retrieve you valuable documents and records.

  6. If you can't stay in your home, notify police that the home will be unoccupied.

  7. Save and document all fire loss expenses (for insurance and income tax purposes).

  8. If you have a mortgage on your house , notify your mortgage company of the fire.

  9. Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up.