Home fires: How to handle and prevent them

From being caught off-guard to water in taps and fire hydrants running dry... here’s how you can prepare for the worst and maybe even prevent it from happening all together.

• Water backup: It’s wise to invest in a backup system, like a large water tank that is fed by the normal water supply or rainwater. Tanks with a water pressure booster are a smart move.

• Fire extinguishers: Having a set of fire extinguishers positioned in key spots across your property could help to put out fires before they get out of control. It’s vital to have these checked and serviced regularly.

• Non-water-reliant suppression systems: Various new technologies – like clean agent suppression systems and tank-andpump suppression systems

– are available to replace the more water pressure reliant systems. Sand can also help in putting out smaller fires.

• Alert authorities: If there is a water outage in your area at the time of a fire, it’s imperative to let the authorities know so that they can prepare accordingly.

When it comes to ensuring fire safety around your home, it’s important to trust the professionals.

Make sure that all cooking and heating appliances are SABS approved and, where applicable, installed by a certified service provider. Improperly installed heating devices have been the cause of numerous house fires in South Africa.

Solar panels can be a fire hazard if not installed properly. That said, even if solar panels are installed correctly, if a fire breaks out in a home, solar panels can intensify the blaze. Ensure that your solar panels are installed by an experienced installer and are maintained regularly.

It’s also crucial to operate devices within manufacturers’ limits. Setting a device to maximum heat for extended periods of time, not placing a device on a level surface, moving it around whilst in operation or charging a device for longer than recommended, for example, could pose a serious risk.

Homeowners also need to make sure that appliances and other heating devices, as well as their piping and wiring, are in a good, safe working order.

Take gas bottles to your nearest gas retailer to have them checked for leaks on a regular basis. This includes gas bottles used for heaters, braais and stoves.

Fires resulting from cooking and, more specifically unattended cooking, is a major concern.

Never leave stoves or heating appliances unattended. Exercise special caution before going to bed at night to make sure that all these are turned off.

Do not overload one single power source. Unplug and switch off all electrical appliances that are not in use.

Make sure that heating, electric and electronic devices are in a spacious and well-ventilated spot to prevent overheating. Do not cover heaters with clothing or other material that you wish to warm or dry.

If you cook with gas or use a gas heater or light, light the match or lighter first, before turning on the gas.

Keep clutter to a minimum in and around your home, as this could add fuel to a fire, and keep flammable materials, including fuels, far away from heat sources.

If possible, install smoke detectors throughout your home and have a fire extinguisher available, especially near the kitchen and other areas where heat sources are frequently used. Make sure that you know how to activate and operate it.

Last, but not least, make sure that trip switches and emergency cut-off valves are in good working order; and keep all emergency contact details within easy reach. Don’t wait until a fire is out of control before contacting emergency response teams. - Caxton