The Most Common Causes for Fires in Houses
Fire damage presents itself to homes quite often, and they can be a scary thing to deal with. More than 300,000 homes throughout America, according to the National Fire Protection Association, suffer from fire damage annually. Professional fire damage restoration companies like Paul Davis have executed many fire restoration services because of this data. It’s good to know the most common ways a house fire is caused, because any probability for fire shouldn’t be neglected. For your preparation, we’ve compiled a selection of the most common causes of house fires.
Being Distracted from Cooking
Preparing meals in the house is one of the major culprits to house fires, especially when no one is there to monitor the kitchen. A lot of houses have needed fire damage repairs because of food being left on the stove with no one to keep an eye on it. If it’s necessary for you to retire from the kitchen for any reason, make sure another person is there to monitor the cooking.
Accessories Using Electricity
Electrical appliances, such as coffee makers and microwaves should be watched after and put in areas that aren’t risky. Check your appliances to see if any of the cords are damaged, since that poses a great fire hazard. Also, what you need to recognize is your outlets. For your safety, check what you plug into them.
Candles in Your Property
One of the more pleasant things to have around the house are candles. While they make for fashionable decorations, they are also a huge fire hazard. Keep your candles away from possible fire hazards such as magazines, papers and curtains, and always make sure the wick isn’t burning when you leave the room.
Cigarettes Inside
When it comes to fire hazards, cigarettes are dangerous on account of they can fall to the floor and burn for a few hours. Exiting your house to smoke is an excellent idea to avert an accident from happening.
Defective Wiring
Any electrical issues in your home, such as damaged wiring, can expose your property to fire. This poses an issue since it’s not in plain sight, but there are some things you can watch out for to recognize any faulty wiring in your property:
- 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 catch any of these things, contact an expert electrician or contact your landlord to resolve the issue.
Barbecues
For most individuals, a barbecue is a part of their residence for the summer. Remember, it’s vital that your barbecue isn’t nearby anything that can ignite from it. Also, have it cleaned and maintained routinely, since the buildup that collects in your barbecue can be a fire risk. Additionally, you should check the gas bottle consistently for leaks or other potential issues.
Children’s Curiosity
Fire is exciting for the curiosity of a child, and that’s why it’s crucial to take every precaution. Hide all matches and lighters in your home to keep your children secure. You can also teach them how to deal with the situation of a fire and to memorize their address in case they need to call 911.
Placing Combustible Liquids
Specific liquids should be kept away from any source of heat, and you should always look through the label to see if they are a risk for fire.
Christmas Trees & Lights
Every winter, holiday festivity is provided to the home through Christmas trees along with a viable house fire. If you have a live tree, you should cut off a small section from the trunk so the tree can soak up water. Watering your tree regularly and keeping it hydrated is also a crucial step. Another thing you should do is turn off your Christmas lights when you go to bed. Furthermore, you could purchase an artificial tree to avert the risk altogether.
Dryers Not Being Cleaned
Fires produced from dryers are quite prevalent, and that’s why it’s important to keep them maintained. To prevent your property from needing fire remediation services, always clean out the lint trap before using it again, and examine the dryer duct consistently because lint can get trapped in there as well.
Prevention
It’s difficult to get rid of all potential fire hazards, but understanding the most common causes of house fires can eliminate your risk substantially. If you have experienced any fire damage to your house, don’t hesitate to call an expert that provides fire remediation services, like Paul Davis. We are a fire restoration company that can get your house recovered back to its previous state.