Advice on Fire Safety for Your Valuable Items

1/9/2023 (Permalink)

Install a working smoke detector

Advice on Fire Safety for Your Valuable Items

If you have valuable items in your home, you may be worried about what would happen to them in the event of a fire. It's only natural to want to protect your valuables against damage or loss, and there are steps that you can take to do just that. Here are some tips for protecting your home and possessions against fire damage.

Keep an Inventory

Keeping track of your valuables can be as simple or as detailed as you want it to be. If you're just starting out, take photos of all the items and save them in a folder on your computer or phone. Then, make a list of every item and include photos and serial numbers (if possible). This is especially important if any items were gifts from family members or friends—you'll want their sentimental value documented so that you don't lose track of who gave them to you.

You can also use spreadsheets for this process; some people find it easier or more fun to keep track of their stuff by using Excel or Google Sheets to create lists, categories, and checklists. Many apps exist that let users keep accurate records of their belongings; we recommend Evernote (which also offers two cents off per gallon when it's used at BP stations) because it lets users scan barcodes into the system so they don't have to type everything manually!

Make Sure Your Home is Protected From Fire

You can help your home protect you by taking the following steps:

• Install a working smoke detector.
• Have an escape plan in place and be sure to have a meeting place outside of the building.
• Buy a fire extinguisher that suits your needs and stick it somewhere easy to reach in case of emergency, like near the kitchen or close to any pets' crates.
• Keep a first aid kit handy for minor cuts, scrapes, burns and bruises that may result from firefighting activities.
• Keep clutter under control in rooms where it collects (like closets) so that if there is an outbreak of flames due to an accident or lightning strike nearby, they will be able to move freely through areas without having too many obstacles blocking their way out through doorways--and away from danger!

Get Your Valuables Appraised

It is important to get an appraisal before a fire or other disaster. You will want to be able to discuss the value of your possessions with your insurance company so that you can receive proper coverage. If you hire a professional appraiser, they will be able to help determine the value of both individual items and collectibles as well as whole collections. You can also perform this task on your own if you are particularly knowledgeable about antiques and collectibles in general. It's never too early to start thinking about how best to prepare for disaster recovery!

Take Photos of Your Valuables

When you take photos of your valuables, it's not just about making sure that when you put down a book to go look something up online, that you don't forget what exactly made this book so precious to begin with. It's also about helping yourself remember the stories behind each item—and even more than that, it helps others understand why these things matter.

Store Your Important Documents Digitally

With traditional paper documents, you have a range of options for safety. You can store them in a fireproof safe, but that doesn't do you much good if they're destroyed by water or smoke, or if the safe itself is damaged. You could also store them in a secure cabinet with a lock, but this isn't always practical depending on where you live (for example, many apartments don't allow access to their cabinets).

If your documents are important enough to keep on paper rather than digitize them and save them online somewhere else (whether it's an online storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive), then one way to protect them from fire would be to scan or digitize the documents yourself. This way there is no worry about damage from water or smoke inhalation when taking out the saved files after a fire has been extinguished. 

Another option is using cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Drive which allows users easily share files between different devices without needing any technical knowledge whatsoever! This means once something gets uploaded onto these platforms they're automatically backed up elsewhere so even if something happens at home then someone else could get access via another device anywhere else around the world.

Keep Valuables in a Safe Place

It is important to keep your jewelry and other valuables in a safe place. To ensure that they are protected from both fire and water damage, consider storing them in a safe or drawer.

Keep your valuables away from fireplaces and radiators, as well as windows, doors, and vents. If you have children at home who might be tempted to play with these items when they're not supervised, it's best if you store them out of reach or lock them up somewhere only an adult can access them.

A Few Steps to Take Now

A fire can be devastating, and it's important to take the steps necessary to protect your valuables.

• Make sure your valuables are insured. If you don't already have coverage, talk to your insurance provider about adding it as soon as possible. A good policy will cover lost items due to a fire, but only if they're properly protected beforehand.
• Take photos of all of your possessions, including family heirlooms or sentimental items that might be harder for an insurer to value on their own (such as jewelry). Photos will help you remember what was lost in case there's any confusion later on down the road.

The best way to protect your valuables is by taking the steps as soon as possible and making sure that you have a plan in place for what happens if your home does catch on fire. If you don’t have insurance, then there are still things that can be done to minimize damage from fires such as keeping valuables out of reach of children or pets who could easily knock them over while playing around the house.