Fire damage happens to homes quite frequently, and they can be a frightening thing to deal with. More than 300,000 homes in America, according to the National Fire Protection Association, come across fire damage annually. Fire restoration contractors like Paul Davis have executed many fire damage cleaning services because of this data. The possibility of a house fire shouldn’t be overlooked, and that’s why it’s good to understand what the most common causes of house fires are. To ensure your preparedness, we’ve organized a list of the most common causes of house fires.
Not Paying Attention While Cooking
Cooking is one of the more common causes of house fires, and a fire typically transpires when the stove is neglected. Many fire damage repairs have been required because of forgotten cooking. If you need to depart from the kitchen for any reason, make sure someone else is there to oversee the cooking.
Appliances Using Electricity
Appliances that use an electrical current, such as toasters and portable heaters should be monitored and put in places that aren’t risky. Review your appliances to see if any of the cords are faulty, since that is a great fire hazard. Another thing to recognize is your outlets. Don’t overload them.
Forgotten Candles
One of the more great pieces to have around the house are candles. While they make for ornate decorations, they are also a huge fire hazard. Make sure to extinguish your candles before exiting the room, and place them in a location where they won’t fall or ignite other things around them.
Cigarettes Indoors
Cigarettes have been a fire hazard for a long time, because they can keep burning for a few hours, and if they come into contact with anything flammable, you can have a severe problem on your hands. Leaving your residence to smoke is the best approach to avert this risk.
Electrical Problems Damaged Wiring
Any electrical problems in your home, such as defective wiring, can put your property at risk for fire. Damaged wiring is difficult because you can’t always see it, but here are a few things to watch out for:
- 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, contact an experienced electrician or contact your landlord to fix the problem.
BBQs & Grills
For most people, a grill is a part of their property for the summer months. Remember, it’s necessary that your grill isn’t nearby anything that can catch on fire from it. Maintaining your grill is also necessary since the buildup in it can be a fire hazard. Additionally, you should examine the gas bottle regularly for leaks or other potential problems.
Children’s Curiosity
Fire is intriguing for a child’s curiosity, and that’s why you need to take preventative measures. Keep any matches or lighters out of reach or hidden to avoid an accident from occurring. Take extra care and ensure your kids understand how to exit the house and that they know their address if they need to call 911.
Contents That Are Combustible
Before storing your liquids, check the label to make sure the substance isn’t flammable, otherwise don’t keep them next to a heat source.
Christmas Trees & Lights
Christmas trees provide holiday festivities into the house, but they are also a risk for home fires. Cutting a small section from the trunk will allow your tree to soak up water, and this should be done before you set it up. Watering your tree frequently and keeping it hydrated is also an essential step. Before turning in for the night, check to see that your Christmas lights are turned off too. Also, you could buy an artificial tree to avoid the fire hazard altogether.
Lint Traps
Fires produced from dryers are rather common, 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 inspect the dryer duct regularly because lint can get trapped in there as well.
Avoid Fire Damage to Your Property
It’s impossible to get rid of all possible fire hazards, but knowing the most common causes of house fires can eradicate your risk substantially. If you have encountered any fire damage to your property, 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 residence recovered back to where it was before.
