Accidents happen. And when they do, some can cause some massive damage like no one has ever seen. On May 22, 2015, a discarded cigarette in a diaper pail caused a $16.3-million fire that destroyed most of a four-story building at a northeast Edmonton condominium complex. Thankfully, there were no fatalities and no major injuries but it could have been prevented.
Here are 12 tips to help keep you safe in your rental property:
- Never try to carry out your own plumbing or electrical repairs.
- Never drill or fix nails in walls without knowing what’s behind them – Walls and partitions conceal electrical cables and gas and water pipes.
- Keep a fire extinguisher on hand to allow you to put out smaller kitchen fires.
- Make sure all smoke alarms are working and not been tampered with.
- Do not store toxic or flammable chemicals inside your home.
- Keep flashlights and candles on hand in case of a power outage.
- Never smoke in bed and discard cigarettes in a safe manner.
- Keep all windows and doors locked when you are not at home.
- Store knives and hunting equipment safely and ensure you have proper permits if required.
- Don’t neglect maintenance. If you see something that needs fixing, have it checked by the property owner or manager.
- Make sure all bulbs are replaced when needed.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Keep pull cords on blinds and electronic wiring away from babies and curious pets.
- Have the property owner’s cell number on speed dial in case of emergency.
And when in doubt, call 9-1-1 immediately.