Fire
Whether they’re caused by cooking or faulty wiring, fires often do more damage to homes than any other type of loss. Far too many fires are caused by negligence or carelessness.
Imagine a beautiful Saturday afternoon. You’re making French fries for your family when you hear your daughter crying after a nasty fall from her bike.
After calming her down, you return to the kitchen to find the stove top covered in flames.
In situations like this, call the fire department immediately. Any fire, even one that seems minor, can spread quickly if it’s not brought under control.
Prevention Tips
Here are some tips to avoid trouble:
- Install smoke detectors. When properly located and maintained, smoke detectors can save your life. Dust them regularly and replace the batteries twice a year, in April and October, when you adjust your clocks.
- Install a centrally-monitored fire alarm system.
- Purchase a fire extinguisher, or better yet, several fire extinguishers, and know how to use them. Make sure they’re accessible to every member of the family.
- Be very careful when cooking with oil.
- Always make French fries in a deep fryer with a thermostat, not in a saucepan. A deep fryer costs less than the deductible you’ll have to pay for a fire claim.
- Keep cooking surfaces, walls, and range hoods clean. Built-up grease can catch fire quickly.
- Learn to recognize other fire hazards. For more information, visit the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Web site.
If damage occurs, call a claims advisor to help you deal with the emergency and start the claims process.