Fire Prevention Can Help Minimize Risk of Costly Home Repairs
21 August 2000
Fire Prevention Can Help Minimize Risk of Costly Home Repairs
LOS ANGELES--Aug. 21, 2000--The fire season is here for many Southern California areas.To avoid costly repairs and losses due to fire damage, it's a good time for homeowners to look in and around their homes and correct any potential fire hazards, advises the Automobile Club of Southern California.
"Although homeowners insurance generally covers the cost of most repairs, fire can cause substantial property damage, which usually means having to pay a deductible and coping with the inconvenience of repairs," said Gil Palmer, the Auto Club's Interinsurance Exchange manager of homeowners insurance claims.
"Sometimes it means losing personal possessions that money can't replace."
Many items in and around the house are potential fire hazards, including barbecues, fireplaces, overgrown brush, trees and shrubs. Some otherwise safe activities can be potentially dangerous under certain circumstances, according to Palmer. The Auto Club, which offers homeowners insurance, provides the following tips that can help prevent fire-related property damage:
| -- | Don't overload circuits when running air conditioning (window models) or other electrical appliances. Avoid using multiple extension cords plugged together in one outlet. Be sure to check the insulated covering of extension cords for signs of wear like cracks, breaks or melting. |
| -- | Don't throw water on a grease fire; use flour or baking soda. |
| -- | For electrical fires, use a fire extinguisher (dry chemical) to put out fire if appliance is still plugged in. If fire is not electrically charged (plugged in) or grease-related, water can be used. |
| -- | Don't use the space under second story balconies for storage -- this could cause a fire to spread faster to the second story. |
| -- | Store flammable materials such as gasoline, bug spray or paint away from the water heater and other sources of heat. |
| -- | Don't leave burning candles unattended and don't use burning candles as nightlights. |
| -- | Don't empty ashtrays in trash can inside the house if contents are hot; instead, empty in metal trash can that's outside. |
| -- | Be sure your outdoor sprinkler system is adequate to prevent dry landscaping. |
| -- | Monitor, cut and/or report overgrown brush near your property to homeowners association, city or local fire department. |
| -- | Test smoke alarms every three months to ensure batteries are working. Keep a log where you can record date each time you change or inspect the batteries. |
| -- | Keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen and garage. Be sure to check expiration date(s) or refill extinguisher after use. |
| -- | Make sure you have a hose that can be easily moved to reach all areas around the house. |
| -- | Vacuum out the lint trap area underneath and behind the clothes dryer every six months. Be aware that plastic vent pipes attract static electricity, which attracts lint. Lint, in turn, can catch fire. The use of a metal vent pipe substantially reduces fire hazard. |
| -- | Use caution when burning certain materials in a fireplace (wood from eucalyptus trees, for example) that can be a higher fire risk for houses with older wood roofs. |
Homeowners can request free, no-obligation homeowners insurance quotes from the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
Homeowners insurance offered by the Interinsurance Exchange of the Auto Club includes uncapped guaranteed replacement cost coverage for homes built after 1950, which means the entire cost of restoring the home to its original condition is covered, subject to the provisions of the policy.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, insurance services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs and legislative advocacy.
Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.