Recent Fire Damage Posts

Trimming the Christmas tree with SERVPRO of Missoula

12/14/2023 (Permalink)

A Christmas tree ornament that looks like a house hangs on a bow amidst lights, beads, and other ornaments. Prevention is the key to a merry, bright, and fire-free holiday season.

Here at SERVPRO of Missoula, we’re committed to fire preparedness, which is why we’ve previously covered topics such as the importance of checking your smoke detectors routinely and having + knowing how to use a home fire extinguisher.

That said, prevention is the most effective tool against home fires, especially during the holiday season. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately 160 Christmas tree fires and 780 decoration fires are reported each year, with candle fires in particular reaching their peak on Christmas and Christmas Eve. With these facts in mind, there are several preventative steps you can take to decrease the risk of a holiday fire in your Missoula home:

  • Never leave a stovetop unattended when cooking
  • Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable
  • For string lights, read the manufacturer’s instructions to find the maximum number of strands to connect
  • Replace string lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections
  • Make sure your tree is at least three feet away from any heat source or vents and that it does not block exits
  • Water your Christmas tree daily
  • Remove your Christmas tree as soon as it dries out
  • Turn off string lights and blow out candles before leaving your home or going to bed

By working these preventative measures into your holiday routine, you can ensure your home stays merry, bright, and fire-free this winter.

The SERVPRO of Missoula team wishes you and yours a safe and joyous holiday season!

SERVPRO of Missoula asks: are your pets in your fire safety plan?

7/18/2023 (Permalink)

A bulldog wearing a fireman’s coat and hat. Your pets are a part of your family – include them in your family’s fire safety plan!

In our ongoing effort to encourage Missoula families to create emergency preparedness plans, this week, SERVPRO of Missoula specifically challenges you to consider how your pets fit into your home’s Fire Safety Plan, and we have some tips to get you started:

  • Include your pets in family evacuation drills. This means keeping a leash or other necessary equipment close to the main exit, and including pet necessities in your emergency supply kit. Training your pets to come to you when you call can also save valuable time in an emergency.
  • Prevent your pets from starting fires by never leaving a pet unattended around an open flame, and securing pets away from fire hazards when you leave them home alone.
  • When leaving pets at home, ensure firefighters can easily evacuate them in the event of a fire by keeping them in rooms or areas close to your home’s entrance. You can also put a pet alert sticker in a front window to let rescuers know the number and types of pets in your home (be sure to update this when necessary).

Discussing emergency preparedness is an activity that the whole family can (and should) participate in together and is definitely worthy of some home-schooling time! For more emergency planning tips, check out the blogs in our “Fire” and “Storm Damage” categories.