House insurance is important to protect the biggest financial investment of most homeowners. One thing such insurance protects against is the cost of fire damage. But there are ways to protect against an event from happening in the first place.

Use Fire Proof Building Materials

Insulation used to build certain homes can be made of burn-resistant material. This will help diminish damage caused by such a home disaster. These materials can be used on both the inside and outside of a house, both residentially and commercially. They don't cost much more than nonresistant building materials as well. Builders should be told by the homebuyer or real estate developer that they will only accept these types of materials in their dwellings.

Don't Use Portable Heaters

These types of heaters are usually filled with gasoline or kerosene to make them burn, but even electrical portable heaters are dangerous when left unattended. They can easily tip over if the family dog accidentally brushes into it or the flooring or carpet underneath where it stands is accidentally tugged and then starts to burn when it comes in contact with the heating element. Many home fires are caused this way, but they can easily be prevented simply if the heaters are watched over all the time. People should know that even the most expensive and safest heaters can easily cause burn damage when left unattended. Only adults should supervise their safety.

Don't Smoke When Sleepy

People who smoke cigarettes while in bed or while dozing off to sleep can easily cause this type of burn damage when the cigarette falls to the floor and ignites either the carpet or a bed sheet or a piece of clothing. So if a person feels himself getting sleepy, he should immediately extinguish his cigarette in an ashtray. This smoking when sleepy phenomenon occurs all too frequently inside all types of homes.

Make Sure Fire Detectors Work

One of the most important preventative measures is to make sure that all homes have proper detectors and that they are functioning properly. They should have fresh batteries in them and be tested on a regular basis. When their alarm goes off as it should at the right time, it can wake sleeping family members and allow them to immediately exit the burning house safely. Too many dwelling don't even have any detectors at all, and puts a household at risk for danger.