Life.  Nothing is more valuable or precious.  Protect It.  Planning can often help avoid a loss of life, an injury, or loss of property.  Listed below are some measures you can implement to reduce your risk prior to or during a fire.

Family Fire Drills

Your Kids will enjoy this.  Make it fun!  Establish an escape plan with your family.  Upon any sign of a fire, Evacuate your home and Call 911.  Almost every room in your home has two ways out:  The door(s) and/or window(s).  If a door is hot to touch, do not open.   Pre-plan a Meeting Place outside of your home (a tree in front of the house, a neighbors driveway, etc.).

Smoke Detectors

Early detection of a fire is key to saving lives and protecting property.  Smoke detectors should be located on each floor (including your basement),  in kitchens, in all bedrooms and hallways.  If hardwired smoke detectors are not installed in your home, inexpensive battery operated smoke detectors
can easily be installed.  Batteries should be changed every
six months (with the changing of your clocks) or as needed.

Fire Extinguishers

Buy one, learn how to use it and place in an accessible area.  An A-B-C Extinguisher could assist  you in putting out a small fire.  Never put your life in danger attempting to extinguish a large fire.  Call 911.

Insurance & Your Agent

Know Your Agent & Your Coverage.  No one knows the value of your home, personal property, or business as well as you do.  Therefore, sit down with your Insurance Agent and discuss what would happen following the worst case scenario.  Do you have enough coverage, is your policy a replacement cost policy or an actual cash value policy.  Know the difference, know your coverage, know your Agent.  

Additional Tips

Fire Safe or Safety Deposit Box.  Store important documentation (birth certificates, deeds, digital media, etc) in a safe location.  Photograph your belongings and store on a disk or file at an off site location (work, friend’s home, glove compartment
of your car).