Minimizing Loss in a Fire

Home fires can be ignited by lightning, electrical shorts and human error, to name a few, and no one expects to be a victim. The unpredictability of fires and devastation that ensues makes it imperative for you to have a plan for keeping your family safe and to take precautions to protect your valuables.

Families need to discuss a fire escape plan in advance, which will significantly reduce the chance of a family member being tragically injured or killed in the event of a fire. Having an escape plan is especially important for households with children, who may not understand the importance of getting away from smoke or that a doorknob can be dangerously hot. Children and adults alike need to recognize the dangers associated with smoke inhalation and fire, practice getting out of the house safely and know the family’s designated meeting location. Having accessible second story fire escape ladders should be a part of the plan, since regularly used doorways and stairs can be inaccessible due to fire and smoke.

Protecting your irreplaceable possessions from the unexpected is an important step you can take to ensure peace of mind and to help your family move forward after a disaster. Besides having an escape plan, it is also important to store legal documents, valuable heirlooms, and other irreplaceable items in a fireproof safe. Knowing that you will not lose crucial documents and keepsakes in a fire makes the circumstances more bearable and allows the family to focus solely on saving lives.

What should be kept in a safe? This depends on what items are most important to your family, and what you cannot afford to lose. It is always a good idea to keep documents such as wills and life insurance policies in your safe, ensuring that they will survive a fire and can be retrieved when needed. Additionally, many people keep photographs and other items with sentimental value locked away and protected from fire and other disasters.

There is no shortage of fireproof safes on the market. It is in your best interest to speak with a qualified expert from a specialized company to ensure a sensible purchase. Safes come in all sizes, with different ratings and different types of locks. For example, the same safe that keeps paper documents from burning may not necessarily protect electronic data from melting. Compose a list of the items that you plan to store in your safe before you speak to a specialist. The expert will be able to make suggestions that you may have overlooked, and ensure that vital factors such as safe size, rating, and the strength of your floor are taken into consideration.

About the Author: Nolan Mondrow is the owner of Zurich Products, a leading provider of quality fireproof safes, wall safes, keyless door locks, keypad door locks and combination door locks. For more information, please visit www.zurichproducts.com.