How to Help Prevent Home Fires

Did you know there are about 24,000 house fires in Canada each year?¹ That most fires start in the kitchen, bedroom or living room from cooking equipment or smoking materials like cigarettes?² Or that more than one-third of the homes affected didn’t have a working smoke detector in fatal, preventable house fires?³

As Canada marks Fire Prevention Week, we are sharing simple and effective ways that can help protect your home from a fire.

Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke and CO detectors are one of the most effective ways to detect dangerous carbon monoxide or fire before it gets out of control, so it’s critical to ensure your detectors are in working order. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to test them monthly and change the batteries often – especially before you hear the chirping noise indicating the battery is low!

With a simple tap on your phone, a smart detector like the Google Nest Protect can send low battery alerts and test itself remotely.

Remember to ensure you have smoke detectors around your home aligned with provincial and national standards⁴.

Never Leave Cooking Unattended

When using your oven, stove or hot plate, check that the area is clear of flammable items like curtains or chemicals. Never leave your kitchen unattended when cooking food, and keep pot handles turned towards the back of the stove¹ to help avoid a potential hazard. It’s also essential to have a fire extinguisher accessible nearby.

Sleep Safe

If you’re lighting candles around the house, ensure you fully extinguish them before you leave the room or, if in your bedroom, before falling asleep. Electric blankets and space heaters could also be potential fire hazards, so ensure you read and follow all directions before using them.

Take Care of Your Fireplace

A living room or bedroom fireplace can be relaxing but poses fire risks. Keep the metal screen shut to ensure embers don’t leap out, and never leave the fireplace unattended when in use. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, be sure to have it professionally cleaned once a year.

Be Smart About Electricity

Replace and do not use exposed, frayed or damaged cords and outlets around your home. Most electrical work is definitely not DIY so when in doubt, call in a licensed electrician for an inspection.

Be Vigilant

Fires can occur in any room of the house, even in the laundry room, furnace room or garage. Make sure to declutter these areas and check surrounding objects to ensure nothing is exposed to a heat source.

Nest Protect: One of the Most Advanced Ways to Help Keep You and Your Home Safe

Nest Protect is a smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm offered by Reliance^® that can speak and notify you on your phone if any threats are detected⁵. There are plenty of other reasons why you should consider a Nest Protect to help protect your home from fire:

• It self-checks batteries and sensors over 400 times a day, so you should never have to worry if it’s working.
• It sends phone alerts when batteries are low and if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected around the home.
• Some smoke alarms can’t tell the difference between steam from your shower and real smoke from a fire, but the Nest Protect can.
• It can differentiate between slow and fast-burning fires and can also work with the Nest Thermostat, which could help to slow down the spread of fire by turning off the air circulation in your home.

To learn more about the benefits of installing a Nest Protect in your home, book a FREE in-home consultation with a Reliance Smart Home Advisor*.

Visit our Ultimate Smart Home Guide to learn more about how to create a smart ecosystem in your home!

¹SGI Canada
²SGI Canada
³CFAA
⁴SGI Canada
⁵ Wi-Fi, an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet, and a free Nest Account are required for wireless mobile notifications and software updates. During set up, Wi-Fi and a free Nest Account are required for wireless interconnect and room naming. After all the Nest Protects in your home are connected, they can communicate with each other without Wi-Fi.
Google, Nest Protect, and Nest Learning Thermostat are trademarks of Google LLC