The Most Common Factors for Fires in Houses
Home fires can be daunting, and they materialize more often than people might think. More than 300,000 homes in America, according to the National Fire Protection Association, experience fire damage in a year. Professional fire damage repair companies like Paul Davis have performed many fire restoration services because of this data. The feasibility of a house fire shouldn't be neglected, and that's why it's great to understand what the most common causes of house fires are. To better prepare yourself, we've assembled a set of the most common causes of house fires.
Leaving Food in the Oven
Making meals in the home is one of the main culprits to house fires, especially when no one is there to keep an eye on the kitchen. Many houses have needed fire clean up services because of food being left on the stove with no one to watch it. If you need to leave the kitchen for any reason, make sure someone else is there to monitor the cooking.
Your Electrical Devices
Anything that needs electricity in your property can act as a fire hazard. Checkup on your appliances to see if any of the cords are bad, because that is a great fire hazard. Also, what you need to recognize is your outlets. You don't want to overload the circuit.
Candles Left Burning
One of the more nice pieces to place around the home are candles. They enhance your space and make your home fragrant, but they are also an extreme fire hazard. Make sure to extinguish your candles before departing the room, and put them in a location where they won't fall over or burn other things around them.
Smoking Inside
When it comes to fire hazards, cigarettes are risky since they can drop on the floor and burn for a long period of time. Smoking outside is the best way to avoid this risk.
A Property with Faulty Wiring
Homes with faulty wiring produce electrical issues which can lead to a house fire. This poses a problem because it's not in plain sight, but there are a few things you can watch out for to identify 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 detect any of these things, call a professional electrician or call your landlord to fix the problem.
BBQ Equipment
Having a grill may be a fundamental part of your property, and they're an excellent thing to have during the summer. Remember, it's necessary that your grill isn't in proximity to anything that can ignite from it. Also, have it cleaned and maintained frequently, because the buildup that occurs in your grill can be a fire hazard. Additionally, you should check the gas bottle consistently for leaks or other potential issues.
Children
Fire is enticing for the curiosity of a child, and that's why you need to take preventative measures. Keep any matches or lighters out of reach or hidden to avoid a disaster from happening. You can also educate them how to deal with the incident of a fire and to memorize their address in the event they need to call 911.
Flammable Liquids
Before storing your liquids, read the label to make sure the contents aren't flammable, otherwise don't keep them next to a heat source.
Christmas Tree
Christmas trees bring holiday cheer into the home, but they are also a big fire hazard. If you like having a live tree, you should cut off an inch from the trunk so the tree has the ability to soak up water. You should also be attentive about ensuring your tree is watered and hydrated. Before going to bed for the evening, make sure your Christmas lights are turned off as well. Furthermore, you could get an artificial tree to avoid the fire hazard altogether.
Dryer Ducts
Fires caused from dryers are quite common, and that's why it's crucial to keep them maintained. To prevent your property from needing fire restoration services, always clean out the lint trap before using it again, and inspect the dryer duct periodically because lint can get stuck in there often.
Prevention
It's impossible to get rid of all potential fire hazards, but knowing the most frequent causes of house fires can remove your risk substantially. If you have encountered any fire damage to your property, don't hesitate to call an expert that provides fire restoration services, like Paul Davis. We are a fire damage restoration company that can have your residence brought back to where it was before.