Open Fire Safety You Need to Know

Everyone loves an open fire; perfect for creating a cosy atmosphere and a fireside seat is the perfect answer to a hard day's work, especially if the weather is cold outside.

Relaxing in front of an open fire with a good book and glass of wine is an appealing scenario that most of us would enjoy experiencing. Although it must be remembered that fires also pose a safety risk and should be treated with a little respect and caution in order to avoid any fire related accidents.

Every year in the United Kingdom the fire service is called out to over 56,000 house fires in which around 11,000 people are injured. Fires in the home are therefore not uncommon but with awareness and pro-activity they can be prevented altogether.

The good news is that preventing fires in the home is relatively straightforward and there are action points that everyone is capable of carrying out. Therefore, why not work as a team with your family or flatmates and make sure fire doesn’t get the better of you.

Open fires are a common culprit of causing blazes which spread throughout the house, so keep reading to discover ways to diminish the possibility of a fire even beginning in the first place.

First of all, you should always use a fireguard to protect the room and its occupants from the open fire. Fireguards are built for only one purpose and shouldn’t be used as a clothes horse or indeed to rest anything on. Clothes and papers will catch fire quickly so don’t be tempted to rest them on your fireguard. It’s also important to store firelighters, logs and or coal outside the fireguard, preferably to the side of the fire itself and in a container designed for the purpose.

Although it may seem logical, it is not a good idea to use your fire for rubbish disposal. Papers and other bits and bobs should be binned or recycled, as items thrown onto hot coals may fall out and spread fire throughout your home causing untold damage.

The spot above the fireplace is a popular one for hanging pictures and photographs but you should always avoid hanging a mirror here for the simple reason that it encourages people to get too close to the fire. Whilst on the subject, it is advisable to keep about a metre between yourself and an open fire.

Christmas is a time of year that’s particularly synonymous with toasty open fires but it’s unfortunately at this time that even more fire related accidents occur; usually due to simple mistakes such as hanging tinsel or Christmas cards above an open fire.

Furthermore, it’s important to have a planned escape route in case a fire does break out and smoke alarms are simply an essential item. The final step you should take to protect yourself and your home from the perils of fire is to make sure your UK home insurance policy covers this accident category.

Article Source: http://www.mycontentbuilder.com

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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