Experts say that 90 percent of wildfires are caused by human error. This is why we need to do everything we can in our power to prevent wildfires that threaten human life, destroy our property, and damage our earth’s natural resources. If you’re doing some fun summer activities this year, here are some essential tips to ensure that your plans don’t cause wildfires anywhere you may be.

Indoor Checklist

Here are some home maintenance tips you need to get on top of as the hottest time of the summer approaches:

1. Check your fire and smoke alarms

Your fire and smoke alarms need to be checked and inspected regularly; it’s prudent to do so at least once a month. Your fire alarm and smoke detector were designed to alert you to a small fire before it spreads and causes larger damage to your home. Residential fires are more prone during the warmer months, so you have to ensure that your alarms and detectors are always up and running. Remove old batteries and have them replaces as soon as possible. Make sure you have new fire extinguishers on hand, too.

2. Have your appliances repaired and maintained

Broken appliances, especially those that have broken or damaged wiring or plugs, can also be a cause for concern because they can overheat your outlets or cause a spark. Before you use appliances for hours or even days, inspect them for broken wiring or anything untoward, like a weird sound or an unpleasant smell. Enlist the help of an appliance repair specialist to help you do the checking, especially since not all appliance issues are visible to the untrained eye.

3. Inspect and maintain your HVAC system

If your air conditioning (AC) unit has to work overtime, then you have to make sure that it’s in tiptop shape, lest you run the risk of it overheating or causing a fire. Moreover, when the heat is unbearable, multiple AC units might be running at once for long periods, which can cause overloading and overheating in your home—the perfect storm for a fire to start.

Outdoor Checklist

If you and your family are planning to have some fun under the sun, here are some safety precautions you need to take to protect your surroundings:

1. Practice grilling safety

A barbecue party is all fun and games until you leave the grill unattended and it causes a fire. Here are some grilling safety measures to remember:

• Don’t wear loose clothing while grilling.
• Keep children and pets away from the grilling station.
• Avoid placing the grilling station near a tree or plants, or anything with foliage.
• Don’t leave the grill unattended, especially while something is being cooked.

2. Be mindful when having campfire activities

Here are some safety measures you need to remember when doing a campfire:

• Inspect your surroundings. The best and safest thing for you to do is starting a fire in an already existing fire pit. If you can’t find one, opt for a safe location with no overhanging tree branches or dry grass. Stay far away from areas with vegetation, and surround your campfire with rocks. Don’t set it too close to your tent as well.
• Follow the rules of the park, or wherever you’re planning to have the campfire.
• Keep flammable liquids and other materials as far away from the fire as possible. 
• Teach everyone how to stop, drop, and roll in case their clothes catch on fire.
• Keep the fire under control at all times. Have someone watch the state of the fire—you can take shifts doing it, especially if some of you are planning on drinking alcohol. 
• Make sure you’re ready to put out the fire and don’t forget to do it before leaving the camping area.
• Dispose of cigarettes properly.  

Arm yourself with an emergency kit

When a wildfire takes place, you might have a hard time finding supplies, especially if some areas in your neighborhood have already been cut off by the fire. Make sure you and your family always have go-bags ready—they should include essentials like a few days worth of food, water, clothing, and medical supplies. Keep these bags or emergency kits in a safe location where you and your family members can easily grab them and head out in the event of a disaster or emergency.

When it comes to fire safety, we can never be too careful. It’s not about being paranoid or living our lives in fear; it’s about preventing what can be prevented and protecting ourselves and our loved ones from harm.

Meta title: Tips for Avoiding Fires This Summer
meta desc: Keep your family and property safe from fires this summer by doing every single safety precaution on this checklist.