With the warm summer weather here in Mansfield, we find ourselves spending more and more time outside. This means the garage is probably being used more than it has been all year. We know the garage can become a ‘catch-all’ and can end up getting pretty cluttered. One thing that can get overlooked is how dangerous certain materials in the garage could be – especially ones that are potential fire hazards. The United States sees over 6,600 garage fires every year, and we want to help make sure yours is not one of them. We are going to go over some of the reasons that could make your garage more prone to fire damage and what you can do to minimize those threats.

Fire Damage Repair In Mansfield

Garages can be prone to fire damage because:

• They are often used for storage of flammable materials that you do not want in your home like; gasoline, paint, paint thinner, motor oil, and brake oil (just to name a few)
• Cars parked in garages can sometimes leak oil and even gas that may seem miniscule but can instrumental in igniting a fire
• Stored objects are often right next to walls, and crammed in so that every inch of usable space is utilized – which makes it easier for fires to grow and spread rapidly because of the accessibility of flammable objects.
• Fuse boxes, extensions cords, and overloaded electrical outlets are all commonly found in garages, which can increase the likelihood of electrical fires from occurring.

To combat these potential fire hazards, we recommend taking the following actions in your garage:

• Organize items in the garage and do not place them right up against the walls, but instead leave a 5-8 inch gap.
• Keep the floors clean and avoid excess clutter from building up.
• Flammable items like bits of paper, cardboard, oil-stained rags, and other materials need to be kept off the floor and if not able to be thrown out should be stored away from anything that is flammable (like grills for example.)
• Be sure that you do not have anything blocking or covering the electric panel or fuse box
• Do not plug too many cords or extensions cords into  single outlet and use surge protectors if multiple things needs power.
• Organize cords and wires so they are not twisted or tangles, and make sure they are not running across the ground where they could be stepped on, tripped over, or even run over by vehicles using the garage.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in an easy-to-access location so that if a small, contained fire does break out in your garage, you can respond quickly.
• Consider calling a professional fire safety inspector to come and asses your garage to see if your walls are fire-rated and to give you advice on how to make your garage more fire-safe

At Shambaugh Cleaning and Restoration, we know how devastating fire damage can be, whether in your garage or anywhere in your home. We want you to be as safe as possible, and to take every precaution necessary to help prevent potential fires. If you do find yourself faced with fire damage, be sure to give us a call. We are trained and certified to provide fire damage repair services no matter the location, size, or scope of the damage.