The Most Common Causes for Fires in Homes
Home fires are scary, and they happen more frequently than people might think. More than 300,000 homes in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association, suffer from fire damage annually. Along with these numbers, businesses like Paul Davis have provided fire damage remediation services for many houses. It's important to understand the most common ways a house fire is caused, because any possibility for fire shouldn't be neglected. We've organized a list of the most common fire hazards so that you can prevent a fire from occurring in your home.
Not Paying Attention While Cooking
Cooking is one of the more common causes of house fires, and a fire often flares up when the stove is neglected. Many fire damage restoration services have been needed because of forgotten cooking. If you need to exit the kitchen for any reason, make sure another person is there to monitor the cooking.
Electrical Current & Your Accessories
Anything that uses electricity in your home can be a fire hazard. If any of your electrical devices have a frayed cord, then they are a fire risk. Another thing to remember is your outlets. Don't overload them.
Candles Left Unattended
Candles are pleasing things to place around the house. Although they make for great decorations, they are also a primary fire hazard. Make sure to put out your candles before leaving the room, and place them in an area where they won't fall over or ignite other objects around them.
Smoking
Cigarettes have been a fire hazard for a long time, considering they can keep burning for a few hours, and if they come into contact with anything flammable, you can have a huge problem on your hands. Smoking outdoors is the best way to stay away from this hazard.
A House with Damaged Wiring
Any electrical problems in your house, such as defective wiring, can expose your property to fire. This presents a problem since 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 this is your dilemma, resolve the problem and get an electrician or call your landlord.
Barbecues in Your Yard
For most people, a barbecue is a part of their property for the warmer months. Remember, it's critical that your grill isn't nearby anything that can ignite from it. Cleaning your barbecue is also important since the buildup in it can put you at risk of fire. Additionally, you need to examine the gas bottle regularly for leaks or other possible issues.
Children
Fire is attractive for the curiosity of a child, and that's why you need to take every precaution. Hide all matches and lighters in the house to keep your children secure. Take additional protections and ensure your children understand how to clear the area and that they know their address if they need to call 911.
Contents That Are Combustible
Before storing your liquids, examine the label to make sure the substance isn't a fire hazard, otherwise don't store them by a heat source.
Christmas Trees in the House
Every December, holiday festivity is brought into the home through Christmas trees along with a potential house fire. Cutting a small section from the trunk will allow your tree to absorb water, and this should be done before it is placed in the tree stand. Watering your tree frequently and keeping it hydrated is also an important step. One more thing you should do is turn off your Christmas lights when you go to bed. You could favor purchasing an artificial tree to avoid a fire hazard.
Clothing Dryers
Fires caused from dryers are quite prevalent, and that's why it's important to keep them maintained. To prevent your house from needing fire remediation services, always clean out the lint trap before using it again, and check the dryer duct consistently because lint can get stuck in there as well.
Preventing Fire Damage
It's difficult to get rid of all potential risks for fire, but knowing the most typical causes of house fires can remove your risk substantially. If you have encountered any fire damage to your home, don't hesitate to call an expert that provides fire remediation services, like Paul Davis. We are a fire clean up company that can have your property restored back to where it was before.
