How to Prevent a Wildfire

As wildfire smoke fills the air, people need to take extra precautions to protect themselves from its effects. That includes staying indoors as much as possible, using air filters and purifiers, wearing masks when exercising outdoors, and taking ibuprofen for headaches. It also means learning about the AQI, or air quality index, for your area and knowing what to look out for. Wildfire smoke can irritate the nose, throat, eyes and skin. The particulates can even cause more serious health problems if they are inhaled over the long term.

There are many fire protection systems and safety procedures that can help prevent a fire, including proper storage and handling of flammable materials; regular maintenance of electrical equipment; no smoking regulations; and adherence to NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) standards. However, it is vital to understand that fire protection is a constantly evolving industry with new codes and standards, equipment, features and more being introduced regularly. It can be difficult to keep pace with all the changes, which is why it’s important to choose a partner that keeps up with the latest fire protection developments and innovations.

For example, a building’s fire safety plan must include an inventory of combustible materials and the location of fire hazards and heat-producing equipment. This information should be communicated to all employees, along with a clear set of fire emergency procedures that should be followed in the event of a fire. It’s also important to ensure that all occupants know the location of fire exits and their designated escape routes. If an emergency evacuation is necessary, procedures should be in place to account for all occupants, including special needs individuals.

In addition to ensuring that all occupants are aware of fire safety procedures, the building fire safety plan must include appropriate firefighting agents and their locations. There are many different types of fire suppression, each with its own unique characteristics. Some of the most common are clean agents, such as nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide, which can be employed to lower oxygen content to disrupt combustion. There are other, more specialized fire suppressants, such as foams and halon based systems (though the movement away from Halons has been seen in recent years).

The most effective method for preventing fires is through early detection. The most important fire safety devices are working smoke alarms and a clearly defined escape route that is practiced regularly. In the event of a fire, it’s also important to be prepared with an easily accessible, appropriately sized fire extinguisher.