With the Fourth of July right around the corner and higher temperatures of summer here, there’s plenty of reason to be concerned about potential fire issues. The professionals at Summit Insurance Advisors are here to help you protect your home with a few tips.
Three Tips to Protect Your Home During Independence Day Celebrations
Keep Your Grill at Least 10 Feet From Your Home
According to the National Fire Protection Association, two percent of the cooking fires between 2007 and 2011 involved a barbecue grill or hibachi. To lower risk of fire damage, injury or death, keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your home when in use. This will minimize the risk of ember or ash ignition.
Use Care With Fireworks
The National Fire Protection Agency suggests that the best way to protect your home and family from risks associated with fireworks is not to use consumer fireworks at all. But, if you must, have adults light all fireworks, including sparklers for young children. Put consumer fireworks that spin, turn and throw sparks in a driveway where there’s less chance that they’ll ignite grass or plants. The NFPA reports that in 2011, nearly 18,000 fires started because of fireworks and caused $32 million in property damage. The association also reports that between 2007 and 2011, four individuals each year died as a result of fires that started because of fireworks.
Keep a Hose Nearby
This one applies to fireworks and barbecue grills. If you have a hose nearby, your response time will be less in a fire-related emergency, whether that emergency is due to your barbecue grill, sparklers or other fireworks that you and your guests may be using this weekend.
If you have concerns about your homeowners insurance and fire danger this summer, contact Summit Insurance Advisors today to talk to one of our representatives.