October is National Fire Safety Month – Make it a Priority, Urges PIANJ

TRENTON – The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey reminds homeowners and renters that with the heating season, comes fire dangers. The trade association urges the public to take the time now to review fire safety tips with their families so they will be prepared in the event of a fire emergency. This is a good time to make sure that your home is insured properly before, an incident.
Insurers generally recommend that people insure their home for its full replacement cost, which means it is insured under a homeowners policy for 100 percent of the cost of repairing or rebuilding it at the time it becomes necessary. If the homeowner purchases a guaranteed replacement cost endorsement, the full amount would be received to rebuild regardless of inflation.
“Under a standard insurance policy, personal property and possessions will be insured for their actual cash value, which is its replacement cost at the time of loss, minus depreciation of its value and any deductible applying to the policy,” says Steven P. Tague, CPIA, president of PIANJ. “In order to receive full value for property, a policy should include replacement cost coverage, which also protects from both depreciation and inflation. Keeping your homeowners or renters insurance policy up-to-date and making sure all valuable are covered is important protection against tragedies.”
“The best way to practice fire safety is to prevent one in the first place,” says Tague. “A tragedy such as a fire can happen at any moment. Professional, independent insurance agents live in the communities where we do business. The safety of our friends and neighbors is always our priority.”
You should always be aware of potential hazards in your home. PIANJ suggests starting by keeping these general tips in mind:
• Every home should have working smoke detectors. Ideally, they should be placed on every floor and in every bedroom.
• Check all electrical appliances, cords and outlets. Make sure they are in good condition without loose or frayed cords or plugs.
• Do not run electrical cords under rugs.
• Don’t let lamps and/or night-lights touch bedspreads, curtains or other fabrics.
• Don’t leave the kitchen if the stove is in use. If you must leave the area, turn off the burners.
In winter, heating overtakes cooking as the main cause of house fires. A primary danger is space heaters, especially the electric ones. “Because they are small, they may seem harmless,” Tague says. “But placed close to furniture or curtains, they can be deadly.”
Never leave a space heater on when you are not in the room. Do not go to sleep with it on. Use it to warm the bedroom, but shut it off before you climb into bed, advises PIANJ.
If you do have a fireplace, have the chimney cleaned professionally at least once a year, and make sure they’re kept clean and covered with a screen to keep the sparks from jumping out.
Most importantly, plan a “get out, stay out” plan, advises PIANJ.
“Practice fire drills at home,” suggests Tague. “Identify a safe family meeting spot and practice it so everyone will know what to do in the event of an actual fire in the home. These drills can make the difference in the event of a real emergency. Fires are frightening and can cause panic. By rehearsing different scenarios, your family is less likely to waste precious time trying to figure out what to do. Test your plan. Have a drill in the middle of the night.”
Professional independent insurance agents are neighbors, friends and family to those they help to insure. Their greatest concern is for their communities and the safety of those that comprise them.
PIANJ is a trade association representing professional, independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees throughout the state.