The Most Common Factors for Fires in Houses
Fire damage occurs to houses quite often, and they can be an alarming thing to deal with. Based off information by the National Fire Protection Association, there are more than 300,000 house fires a year in the United States, and they are responsible for the deaths and injuries of both civilians and firefighters. Along with this data, businesses like Paul Davis have provided fire damage repair services for many homes. It's necessary to know the most common ways a house fire is caused, because any chance for fire shouldn't be overlooked. We've listed out the most common fire threats so that you can avoid a fire from happening in your home.
Neglecting Food in the Oven
Preparing meals in the home is one of the main culprits to house fires, especially when no one is there to monitor the kitchen. Many homes have needed fire clean up services because of food being left on the stove with no one to watch it. It's important to stay in the kitchen while preparing your meals, or to get someone to watch it if you move away from the room.
Electrical Current & Your Equipment
Electrical appliances, such as coffee makers and microwaves need to be checked up on and put in places that aren't risky. If any of your electrical gear has a frayed cord, then they are a fire risk. Another thing to be careful with is your outlets. You don't want to overload the circuit.
Forgotten Candles
Candles are pleasing things to keep around the home. They embellish your space and make your home fragrant, but they are also a huge risk for fire. Make sure to extinguish your candles before exiting the room, and place them in a location where they won't fall over or ignite other objects around them.
Smoking
When it comes to fire hazards, cigarettes are risky on account of they can drop on the ground and stay lit for a few hours. Exiting your residence to smoke is an excellent approach to avert an accident from happening.
A Residence with Faulty Wiring
Any electrical complications in your home, such as faulty wiring, can put your property at risk for fire. This poses an issue because it's not in plain sight, but there are some things you can look out for to diagnose any faulty wiring in your house:
- Your lights dim when another appliance is in use
- You have to disconnect something in order for an appliance to work
- Your circuit trips frequently
If you notice any of these things, call an experienced electrician or contact your landlord to fix the problem.
Grills
For most people, a grill is a part of their home for the summer months. Remember, it's important that your grill isn't close to anything that can catch on fire from it. Maintaining your grill is also critical because the buildup in it can be a fire hazard. Checking your gas bottle on a regular basis is another necessary step in ensuring your safety.
Kids
Fire is attractive for a child's curiosity, and that's why it's important to take every precaution. Keep any matches or lighters out of reach or hidden to avoid an emergency from taking place. Take additional steps and ensure your children know how to clear the area and that they know their address if they need to call 911.
Contents That Are Combustible
When you're storing your liquids, always examine the label to make sure the contents aren't a fire hazard, otherwise don't store them next to a heat source.
Christmas Trees & Lights
Every winter, holiday cheer is delivered to the home through Christmas trees along with a probable house fire. If you like having a live tree, it's necessary to cut off a small section from the trunk so the tree has the ability to soak up water. You should also be earnest about ensuring your tree is watered and hydrated. Before turning in for the evening, check to see that your Christmas lights are turned off too. Additionally, you could get an artificial tree to avoid the fire hazard altogether.
Dryer Ducts
Fires produced from dryers are rather frequent, and that's why it's critical to keep them clean. To prevent your house from needing fire remediation services, always clean out the lint trap before using it again, and inspect the dryer duct consistently because lint can get trapped in there as well.
Prevention
It's difficult to get rid of all potential risks for fire, but knowing the most common causes of house fires can remove your risk significantly. If you have experienced any fire damage to your property, don't hesitate to call an expert that offers fire remediation services, like Paul Davis. We are a fire damage restoration company that can have your property restored back to where it was before.
