Tracy and Jason Bracewell never thought they were going to face the daunting task of rebuilding their house.

But as the two watched their two-bedroom Riddell's Bay house become engulfed in flames, they realised there were messages they needed to get out to the public.

1. Water heaters and linen closets do not mix.

Lieutenant Dana Lovell of the Fire Department offered these words. He said: "We advise all residents to be mindful of storage especially when there is a need to place storage around plugs and heat."

Keeping linens separate from the heaters as well as not placing carpets over cords could help contain any chance of the fire.

Lt. Lovell also suggested having a certified electrician look at the wiring in the house to ensure it is not too old and if it needs to be redone.

2. Plan for a fire at your house. If you had one, would you know which way the fire truck could approach to put it out?

Overgrown hedges can pose problems to accessing homes especially during the summer months, according to Lt. Lovell.

He urged all residents to maintain and contain the growth of the hedges.

3. Make sure your house is insured for the correct amount.

The Bracewell's discovered their house may be under-insured, which means payments on claims can be severely limited.

If you have concerns about how much your house is insured for you should contact your insurer. Mr. Bracewell said: "Make sure you have the coverage you need. It could be a million bucks for basic construction, so you need to keep an eye on how much construction is costing."

4. Help the Fire Department find your house.

Lt. Lovell also encouraged all residents to make sure their house number was prominently displayed, which helps them pinpoint the location.

Also helping with this will be to give as specific directions as possible to the person on the phone. Practice where a fire truck would be able to get to put out the fire.