Protect Your Home Before the Next Texas Wildfire Strikes

Fires and wildfires have caused tremendous property damage for Texas residents this past year. Although most fires are caused by humans and started in kitchens, there are those that occur due to low levels of precipitation, drought conditions, and high temperatures. When those conditions are combined with dry, windy days, vegetation can easily ignite and cause a wildfire to spread rapidly.

Residents of Bastrop, Houston, Colorado, Leon, Williamson and Travis counties know all too well the aftermath of Texas wildfires after they suffered property losses this last year.

Although not every fire is avoidable, there are some things you can do to protect your home, your belongings and your family’s safety, including:

Install smoke alarms in your home. There should be a smoke detector in every room, as well as at the top of the stairway and outside bedrooms. Batteries for fire alarms should be replaced once a year.
Keep fire extinguishers in your home. Make sure that everyone living in your home knows how to use a fire extinguisher.
Inspect your home for fire hazards. Verify that extension cords are not frayed and do not have exposed wires. Have electrical wiring checked by an electrician, and make sure your outlets have cover plates.
Inspect the outside of your home. Remove items around your home that could easily burn, such as grills and woodpiles.
Be safe and take precautions. Place a screen in front of the fireplace. Never smoke near flammable liquids, and keep matches away from children. Additionally, place space heaters away from flammable materials to avoid a house fire.
Talk about escape routes with your family. It is wise to prepare and review escape routes for each room. Verify that windows are not painted shut and that any window bars can be easily opened from the inside.
Assemble a disaster kit that can be grabbed in a hurry. This can include water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, extra clothing, flashlights, toilet paper, whistles, home inventory list, insurance policy and personal identification items.

When you have been warned of a fire in the area, it is a good idea to go ahead and gather your valuables, documents, disaster kit, pets and children and be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. When local authorities recommend that you leave your home due to the potential fire hazard, you should evacuate based on their experience and knowledge.

If you have time before you leave, wet down shrubs around your residence, shut every door, window and vent to your house, and shut off propane or natural gas at the source.

If your home was devastated by a Texas fire, contact a trusted Texas insurance claim attorney for help with your residential fire claim. Contact the Voss Law Firm at 888-614-7730 and receive a free legal consultation today.

The Voss Law Firm, P.C. represents clients on a local, national and international basis. We proudly serve companies and individuals along the Gulf Coast and around the globe on a contingency fee basis. Our law firm collects nothing unless we recover on our client's behalf.

Protect Your Home Before the Next Texas Wildfire Strikes

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