Preventing a Garage Fire at Your Spring Lake, MI Home

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

This Spring Lake home was part of the statistic.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration and FEMA, there are 6,600 garage fires in homes every year, with the leading cause as electrical malfunction.  The following are some prevention tips to keep your Spring Lake home safe from a garage fire:

• Store oil, gas, paint, propane, and varnishes in a shed or building away from your home.
• Keep items that can burn on shelves away from appliances.
• Plug only one charging appliance into an outlet.
• Do not use an extension cord when charging an appliance.
• Install:
  • A 20-minute fire-rated door that is self-closing and self-latching from the garage into the house.
  • If you have living space above the garage - a ceiling made with 5/8-inch Type X gypsum board.
  • If a wall attaches the garage to your home - a wall with 1/2-inch gypsum board.
  • If you have attic access from the garage - an attic hatch cover.
  • A heat alarm, not a smoke alarm, in your garage.  The heat alarm will sound if the temperature rises too high.

If your home has experienced a garage fire, call SERVPRO of Holland / West Ottawa County today for an estimate, 616-396-8180