5 Leading Causes of House Fires

A house fire is a nightmare for everybody. When it occurs, it can spread at a lightning-fast speed, causing devastating consequences.

Thus, alertness is the key to avoiding such accidents. It’s essential to always have fire escape plans in case of an emergency. Also, it’s important to practice your fire escape plan. Make sure that each member at home knows the ways to evacuate the place. It is crucial to keep your fire exits clear and accessible to reduce the risks of damage. Proper knowledge and understanding of the reasons for house fires can go a long way in ensuring your safety from fire damage.

Common Reasons for House Fires

There are several causes of house fires. Some of the common reasons are as follows:

Cooking

An unsupervised stove or oven is one of the most common reasons for kitchen fires. According to NFPA, 40% of residential fires occur due to cooking-related fires.

It is recommended not to leave an oven unattended. Also, it’s safer to have a fire extinguisher for such emergencies.

Kids Playing with Fire

Children are likely to be curious about fire. So, they often tend to play with it. But it can pose a high risk of serious injury or setting the house on fire. It’s important to keep lighters and flammable liquids away from children’s reach. Activities that involve fire need to be supervised by experts or adults. It’s better to teach children about the dangers of fire.

Smoking Inside A Room

Smoking indoors can be dangerous. Often people tend to smoke on the couch or in bed while relaxing. But if you fall asleep while smoking, it can pose a risk of setting things ablaze. A cigarette that is disposed of in an ashtray can still have embers. So, disposing of them in a trash bin can result in bursting into flames and setting your home on fire. Thus, it’s recommended not to smoke indoors.

Heating Equipment

16% of home fires occur due to Heating Equipment, especially during the winters. Both fuel-based and electrical space heaters are highly flammable. So, it’s essential to keep them away from furniture and other combustible goods.

Old and malfunctioning furnaces can also be a reason for house fires. So, it’s crucial to ensure a regular inspection of your furnace.

Candles

Candles are a widely-used item in every household. They are a cheap and practical means of light. It has the potential to create a magical, romantic ambiance. But as a source of an open flame, it can be hazardous too. According to NFPA, 20 home candle fires are reported per day, on average. It’s better to blow out all the candles before going to sleep or leaving the house.

Why ECOS

Count on us when you need professional fire damage restoration services. Our technicians are IICRC-certified with years of experience in fire damage restoration. We use advanced equipment to mitigate fire damage. We work hard to make sure that you can get back to your normal life at the earliest.

Call us at 1.888.990.5067 any time and we will be happy to provide a sound solution.