According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there were nearly 380,000 residential fires in the United States in 2018. These fires caused 2,620 deaths, more than 11,000 injuries, and $7.2 billion in damage.
Approximately half of these fires were caused by cooking accidents, but the other half was made up of fires caused by heating units (unattended electric or kerosene heaters or fireplace sparks), electrical malfunctions, and unintentional incidents, including carelessness (falling asleep with a lit cigarette), etc.
On the surface, it sounds like many of these fires could have potentially been avoided. However, since you never know when accidents or malfunctions may occur, it’s best to be prepared in advance to deal with incidents as they come along—such as having a charged fire extinguisher ready somewhere near the kitchen.
On the other hand, many incidents are unavoidable, unpredictable, and can happen when you least expect them, like when you are away from the home or sleeping. This is when a fire alarm system can be most beneficial. Fire alarm systems:
- Save Lives: Smoke and heat detectors can sense a potential problem before you may be aware of it. Responding to an alarm quickly can get you and your family out of the home before the problem escalates.
- Reduce Loss: Using a video monitoring service, your system can alert professionals 24/7 if there is a problem. Monitoring agents can then quickly dispatch the fire department to your home to tackle the problem in its early stages. The quicker they can reach your home, the better your chances of reducing damage.
- Speeds Recovery: Less damage means you’ll be able to recover and rebuild more quickly, allowing you to get back in your home faster with as little disruption as possible.
- Provide Discounts: Most insurance companies will provide you with a discount on your homeowner’s insurance if you have a fire alarm system installed.
Installing an alarm system is only one part of the equation. It’s important to have your smart alarm system inspected and tested regularly to ensure everything is working properly. Johns Brothers Security is standing ready to install, service, and monitor the perfect fire alarm/security system for your family’s needs.