Allstate fire prevention tips

With the temperature going down and more people trying to keep their homes warm, consumers need to make sure they are prepared in case a fire breaks out.

According to the National Fire Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,557,500 fires in 2007. These fires resulted in 3,430 civilian fire fatalities, 17,675 civilian fire injuries and an estimated $14,639,000,000 in direct property loss. There was a civilian fire death every 153 minutes and a civilian fire injury every 30 minutes in 2007.

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and Christmas will be here before you know it, so your friends at Allstate offer you holiday fire safety tips. We encourage you to plan ahead with loved ones to prevent a fire from occurring.

Some of the most common causes of fires in homes include cooking, Christmas trees, holiday lights, candles and wrapping paper.

By following the tips below from the American Red Cross, we hope that you have a safe holiday season.
• Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.
• If people sleep with doors closed, install smoke alarms inside sleeping areas, too.
• Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately. Replace all batteries once a year.
• Vacuum away cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms monthly.
• Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time. Replace your smoke alarms every ten years.
• Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department in how to use them.
• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home.

If you follow these safety tips, you will be well on your way to a safe and happy holiday season. We do know that accidents happen, though, so make sure you’ve had a recent discussion with your agent to ensure that you have adequate coverage on your house and belongings.