How to Fire-Proof Your Home

It takes only seconds for a fire to break out in your home or property, but the damage can last a lifetime. Victims of house fires often grapple with deep losses, which may include loss of cherished and valuable items, loss of the home itself, and/or the tragic loss of loved ones and pets. There’s also a mental toll that can last a lifetime.

That’s why, at PEI Mutual, we take fire prevention and preparedness very seriously. Here on PEI, we need to pay extra attention to seasonal fire threats. Dry summers increase the risk of wildfires that can threaten homes, while our cold winters increase the risk of fires from woodstove and oil furnace heating. The most common fire hazards, however, originate in the kitchen and from cigarette smoking, which are year-round concerns. 

The good news is that many fires are preventable. Regular home maintenance, safety-centric practices, and a solid emergency plan can go a long way towards preventing disaster. We’ve put together our top tips for fire-proofing your home year-round. Keep reading and share with your family and friends so that everyone can do their part.

Indoor Fire Safety and Maintenance 

The most common fire hazards in your home are: people, home heating systems, dryers, and electric items/sources. 

Dryer Maintenance 

Clothes dryers are a marvelous invention, but they can become a fire hazard if not properly maintained. Lint build-up is by far the most common source of dryer fires. Follow these tips to reduce the chances of having a dryer fire:

• Clean lint from the trap after every single use (and check it before use to be doubly safe)
• Inspect and clean the dryer vent and ductwork regularly (every season, at least)
• Make sure your dryer is vented to the outdoors, rather than a crawl space, attic or other indoor area
• Only run your dryer when you are home and awake (please, never run the dryer before going to bed). 

Oil Furnace and Chimney Upkeep

Many Islanders still rely on oil furnaces as their primary heating source or as a backup when heat pumps can’t keep up with bone-chilling temperatures. Whether you use your furnace throughout the winter or only on occasion, it’s important to ensure regular upkeep of the entire heating system:

• Schedule an annual furnace inspection and service by a trusted professional every fall, before peak heating season sets in. They’re trained to find leaks, catch soot build-up and identify mechanical issues. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes.
• Check your tank expiry date. This applies if you have an older tank that’s made from steel, as it can corrode over time and cause oil leaks. Fibreglass tanks don’t have an expiry date and are more durable – when your budget allows or your steel tank expires, consider upgrading to this safer alternative. Your tank expiry can be found on the tag attached to the fill pipe.
• Always keep the area around the furnace clear of items, especially flammables like paint and cleaning products. If you live with people who might forget this rule, consider creating a ‘chalk’ fence on the basement floor or some other friendly reminder
• Keep a fire extinguisher designed for oil fires near your furnace and make sure it’s replaced after the expiration date
• Maintain your chimneys by hiring a professional to clean and inspect them once a year.
• Regularly check for cracks, blockages, nests, and other debris that might cause smoke backdrafts or fires
• Install a chimney cap to prevent critters and other items from getting inside

Electrical Safety

Poor electric wiring and/or overloading of electric outlets can cause sparks that quickly turn into  a raging fire. Here are some tips to protect against electric fires:

• If you live in an older home, consider hiring a certified electrician to inspect your wiring and ensure it is up to code. Yes, there will be an upfront cost and possibly some costs to do upgrades, but the outlay is worth it to many homeowners for the sense of safety they gain
• Regularly inspect cords and outlets for wear and tear. Do not continue using them if they are in questionable condition
• Avoid overloading outlets or power strips. 

 

Cooking, Smoking and Other Human Errors

According to the Canadian Red Cross, most house fires begin when a hot surface or open flame is left unattended, such as a stovetop, candle, or cigarette. In other words, human error accounts for the majority of residential fires. Let’s take a closer look at some of the main culprits and how everyone in the household can help prevent a fire from happening:

 

Cooking 

Across Canada from 2015 to 2021, cooking was the leading cause of fire incidents (32%) and injuries (43%) according to the latest report from Stats Canada. Most of these fires are caused by human error, rather than malfunctioning appliances. Here are some tips to stay on the side of safety while cooking in the kitchen or at the BBQ:

• Never leave food that you are cooking unattended. The only exception to this rule is if you are using a slow cooker. Despite what viewers of This Is Us might have been led to believe, slow cookers are a very low fire risk. 
• Besides staying in the kitchen, always use timers to keep track of what you’re cooking or baking, especially if you have multiple dishes on the go.
• Keep flammable items away from stovetops, including tea towels, paper towels and plastics (e.g. spatula). 
• Don’t store anything on the stovetop, even when it’s not in use (an accidental flip switch or dial turn could cost you everything)
• Clean the grease build-up from your stovetop, range hood, oven, and BBQ often (monthly if you cook often, quarterly if you only cook occasionally) 
• Keep a kitchen-rated fire extinguisher within easy access of your stove.
• If a grease fire does start, never use water to extinguish it. Instead, cover the pan with a lid (if safe to do so) or use a kitchen-rated fire extinguisher

Smoking 

While cooking is the leading cause of house fires, smoking/smoker’s material is the leading cause of residential fire deaths (64%) according to Statistics Canada. Here are some ways to reduce the risks:

• Refrain from smoking inside altogether and use only designated areas outside, away from outbuildings and flammables
• Always dispose of cigarette butts safely, ensuring they are fully extinguished and placed in a deep ashtray. Avoid dropping butts in the trash, planters, or on the grass. 
• If you must smoke inside, avoid doing so in places where you are more likely to fall asleep (e.g. recliner, bed, couch) and remain alert at all times.

Other Activities

Candles and other open flames, such as a crackling woodfire, may seem romantic, but they can quickly lead to tragedy if not properly managed, as can other careless activities. Here are some top tips to reduce other risks in your home: 

• Never leave open-flame candles unattended.
• Always keep candles away from flammables, including fabrics, and well clear of children and pets.
• Keep matches, lighters and other fire starters far out of reach of children
• Ensure woodstoves/fireplaces are up to code and properly maintained
• If you use a woodstove or fireplace, make sure everyone in the household is well-informed on how to light, maintain, and extinguish the fire. 
• Christmas trees are another frequent source of house fires. Prevention is key – make sure you buy a healthy tree that can hold water and keep it topped up daily with at least 2 to 3L of water

 

Outdoor Fire Prevention and Safety

Fire prevention extends beyond your house; your outdoor space can also present hazards. The good news is that you can reduce fire risks with simple property maintenance and organization: 

• Regularly clear brush, dry leaves and other debris away from your house and any outbuildings
• Store firewood at least 10 feet from buildings (if you need to store it in a woodshed, ensure the shed is a substantial distance away from your house, trees, and other buildings)
• Keep trees and shrubs around your property trimmed to create a defensible border from external fires (e.g. wildfires or fires from a neighbouring property) 
• Store any fuels and other chemicals in a safe, well-ventilated area  
• Ensure your outbuildings are well-ventilated and wiring is up-to-date

Fire Preparedness

Now that we’ve highlighted some of the key fire hazards and ways you can minimize these risks, let’s take a look at how to prepare for the worst-case scenario – a fire igniting in your house or on your property:

• Ensure you have fire alarms installed on each level of your home (including your basement, even if it’s unfinished) and in key areas, including the kitchen and all bedrooms.
• Test batteries every month and ensure you always have replacement batteries on hand. Set a reminder on your phone to check the batteries each month! 
• Keep fire extinguishers in easy-to-access locations, including the kitchen, furnace room, garage and outbuilding.
• If you are using oil or wood heating sources or propane for cooking/hot water, ensure you have a carbon monoxide detector.
• Make sure you have a fire escape plan and practice it with all family members. Consider various scenarios (e.g. everyone is sleeping, only one person is home, the fire is blocking stairs to the main floor, etc.).  If you have furry family members, take this into account.
• Decide on a safe meeting spot outside your home, so everyone can be accounted for. 
• Ensure all exits and pathways are clear – this is especially important here on PEI during the winter months, when one might be tempted to only shovel out one exit door and leave windows blocked with snow. 

Insurance Check-Up

Home insurance is one of the few products you purchase with the hopes of never having to actually use it. If, however, you are the victim of  a house fire, having comprehensive insurance will go a long way to helping you recover from the material losses you incur. Here are some of our top tips for ensuring you get the most out of your fire insurance:

• Review your insurance to ensure you’re covered for fire damage to your home and outbuildings, including any barns on the property.
• Don’t be shy, reach out to your PEI Mutual Insurance agent to review your coverage and ask for clarification on policy details you find confusing or unclear. 
• Make sure you take an inventory of your household contents and equipment, as this will make it easier to process your claim. Photos and/or videos stored on the cloud are a great option for easy inventory; just make sure you regularly update if/when you purchase new items. Also, be sure to take note of items that are not typically covered under fire insurance, such as large amounts of cash. 

Make Prevention and Preparation a Top Priority

Many tragedies, including a lot of house fires, are preventable. The trouble is that it’s easy to say ‘I’ll get around to doing that tomorrow’, whether we’re talking about creating a fire plan, buying a fire extinguisher, or clearing the dry leaves from our property. 

Likewise, our brains can convince us that it’s not that big of a deal to leave a soup bubbling on the stovetop or to throw a cigarette butt in a nearby planter.

The thing is it’s not a big deal until it IS a big deal and by then it’s often too late to do anything, aside from escape to safety and watch your house go up in flames. We know that’s quite a somber outlook, but we also know how deeply damaging house fires are to the families that experience them.

Take the time now (and every day) to make fire prevention and preparation a priority for you and your family.

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