Seven Simple Fire Prevention Strategies for Your Apartment

Fire prevention strategies can help protect you from incurring thousands of dollars in damages, and they can save your life. It’s great to have working smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector installed, but those are only effective after a fire has already started. Here are 7 simple fire prevention strategies for your apartment.
1. Caution in the Kitchen
Move papers, bills and other flammable materials away from your kitchen stove. Kitchen fires can get out of hand in a hurry once they get started. Also, be careful when cooking anything with hot oils or grease. This is one of the most common causes of kitchen fires. Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen, just in case.
2. Use Surge Protectors
This not only protects your appliances, it can also help prevent a fire. If something shorts out, the spark could potentially start a fire. This is especially true in older apartments, where the outlets may not be up to municipal fire codes. A surge protector for your electronics can be an extra level of protection.
3. Candles and Incense
Unattended candles and incense burners are frequent fire starters in apartments. Never leave these items unattended if you’re burning them. Be careful not to place them in a location where they can accidentally be knocked over. Also, place them away from drapes, curtains or anything else that could catch fire.
4. Cigarettes
Unattended cigarettes are the number one cause of apartment fires. This makes it a tremendous health risk not only for yourself, but also for your neighbors if you set the building on fire. Consider entering a treatment program to kick the habit, and if you must have a cigarette, smoke it outside (away from your neighbors apartments), and ensure it is properly put out.
5. Check Electrical Cords
If you find an electrical cord for an appliance that’s frayed or cracked, it’s a potential fire hazard. Either replace the cord or the entire appliance. Also, don’t run electric cords underneath a rug or between rooms. Walking on a cord or closing a door on it can cause it to wear out over time, and a spark could cause a fire.
6. Don’t Store Flammable Materials
If you have an extra gasoline can or a propane tank for a barbecue, don’t store those in your apartment. This is a potential fire hazard, and it might even be a violation of your lease agreement.
7. Take Care with Heaters
Don’t attempt to dry clothes on the heaters in your apartment. Make sure to keep all heaters free and clear from obstructions, especially things that are flammable. If you use a space heater, make sure it’s an appropriate distance from anything that could catch fire (about 3 feet). Space heaters should also be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord with a space heater in your apartment.

Following these fire prevention strategies is just the beginning to protecting your apartment. Make sure to keep all of your apartment exits free and clear of obstruction in case of a fire. Also make sure your windows operate properly, and have an escape plan for everyone in the apartment in case of a fire.