Post Image

On June 25, 2015, popular Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw experienced a rude shock when her home at Lekki Phase One was gutted by fire.

Henshaw was on the location of “Do-Good,” a TV series which is a revival of her and Basorge Tariah Jr.’s combination in the 90’s soap opera ‘Candle Light’, when she was called by her neighbours that her house was on fire. According to online reports, she quickly went home and called fire fighters, but it was too late. The twin duplex was burnt along with numerous belongings.
She is not the first Nigerian to witness such a colossal loss due to fire outbreak and that calls for worry. Numerous unfortunate cases like this are why we’ve compiled this list. They are preventive measures that will help you keep your home and properties safe from fire.
1. Always put off appliances when not in use Sometimes, when rushing off to work, we sometimes forget to put off our appliances; other times, we might assume it is not that important. This is very dangerous! Always put off all your home appliances to avoid voltage surge that may follow when power is restored after an outage. Don’t forget to do the same when leaving the office; you don’t want to cost your company millions of naira in repairs and let’s not forget you could lose your job. 2. Avoid distraction in the kitchen Fire safety starts in the kitchen as this is where most fire accidents start. This is because most people start cooking a meal but soon become distracted and forget about it. This is one of the reasons why taking your phones to the kitchen is a very bad idea. You might become distracted; no thanks to the numerous social media platforms most of us are on. If you have to leave the kitchen, or answer a phone call, turn the heat off first. 3. Keep your generator in a safe place All generators should be kept in an open space for cross-ventilation and not in an enclosed environment. 4. Do not be an emergency engineer or electrician Faulty or deteriorating electrical cords are another top cause of home fires. Cords that have become frayed or cracked can send sparks to flammable surfaces and start a fire. Avoid fixing electrical faults personally when you apparently do not have the skill. Violating the basic rule of aligning like charges can lead to a spark which may result in fire. So contact a professional when your electrical appliances are faulty. 5. Keep the candle on a candlestand Don’t leave the candles on after that romantic evening with your spouse and get carried away with … you know what. Always put them on a candlestand and remember to put them off before going to bed. Also, desist from putting them beside clothes or curtains as they are highly flammable. Here is another idea: instead of using traditional, open-flame candles, consider switching to battery-operated candles that look and perform like real ones. Did you find this article helpful? Share this article with loved ones and subscribe to our newsletter to receive more helpful articles like this that will make your life easier and better. Stay safe and keep your home safe this July. Happy new month!   Do you have other tips you would like to share with us? Please send them to editor(at)connectnigeria(dot)com and get featured.   Photo Credit: Ferrell-lawfirm.com

You might also like:
This article was first published on 1st July 2015

ejura

Ejura Salihu is an Anatomist, Writer and Editor. She is currently the Editor-in-chief for Connect Nigeria. You can contact her via email: ejurasalihu24@gmail.com or follow her on twitter @icyquin_msc


Comments (2)

2 thoughts on “5 Essential Tips to Prevent Home Fires”


  • Some many people and homes are victims of domestic gas explosion so always ensure to put off the cooking gas when done cooking.


    • @Isabella, I agree with you totally. That is another useful tip. Thank you for reading and dropping your comment. Please share this article.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *