Manufactured Home fires occur fast and can be deadly. Due to design and construction of a manufactured home, the entire contents of a home can be destroyed in a very short time creating a nearly impossible situation for successful escape. Increase your chances of survival by taking the following precautions.
Electrical Safety
According the National Fire Protection Association, electrical distribution equipment is the number-one cause of manufactured home fires. From a fire prevention perspective, please minimize the use of extension cords and make a habit of unplugging unused electrical appliances. Additionally, should you have electrical work done on your home assure that a licensed electrical contractor does the work.
HUD
Additionally, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that if you are in the market to purchase or rent a manufactured home, select a home built after 1976 that bears the HUD label certifying compliance with nationally recognized safety standards.
Smoke Detectors
Check your smoke detectors regularly. The national reminder for this is when your change your clock change your smoke detector battery. Never remove or disable a malfunction smoke detector until it can be replaced or repaired with a fresh battery.
There should be a smoke alarm is every bedroom and common hallway leading to bedrooms.
Kitchen Safety
Have a fire extinguisher available in the kitchen area. Grease fires and fires caused by unattended cooking are common, and a fire extinguisher is the most reliable means of suppressing the fire.
Heating and Air Conditioning Units
Have your heaters and air conditioners check before each season of use. If you are using widow mounted air conditioners, be aware that these units can easily overload the circuits of your home. Assure that the power supply is adequate and made to handle the power demands of large electrical appliances.
Smoking
If you have smokers in your home or you smoke, make sure that adequate ashtrays are available and emptied regularly. Additionally, if small children visit your home keep lighters and matches out of reach.
If you would like more information on Manufactured Home Safety, The National Fire Protection Association, HUD and your local fire department have considerable material on this subject. Please stay fire safe and practice fire safety everyday.
I forget that I want to do that, then few months later I remember again. It doesn't help that my husband doesn't seem concerned at all about how we would get out of the house in a fire. Maybe he thinks if he ignores it, it won't happen.
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