What are the Common Causes of Fires?
A primary source of fatalities and property loss nationwide has been and will continue to be house fires. In 2020, there will have been 490,500 residential house fires in the United States, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). There have been 1,388,500 documented fires overall, including this one.
Not only did home fires cause $12.1 billion in physical damage, but they also claimed 2,730 lives, not counting any potential losses among firemen. Additionally, 13,000 homeowners and family members were hurt.
The destruction of structures and other property can be avoided, as well as the potential loss of life, by being aware of the most frequent common house fire causes.
Accidental fires are caused by a variety of factors. In general, fires are frequently caused by inadvertent carelessness, reckless behaviour, or flaws in products or technology. They can occasionally be avoided since they can be brought on by an “act of God,” like a lightning strike.
In some respects, our only option is to make the best preparations we can for any eventuality. Understanding the common house fire causes is the first step in this preparation.
Common House Fire Causes Include:
Equipment and Appliances
Any appliance that produces heat (such as heaters, clothes dryers, and computers) or warms up over time (such as fans and computers) has a risk of catching fire. Unattended cooking equipment is a common source of preventable fires.
Candles
A burning candle should never be left unattended, according to the label on every candle. But many candles might burn out of control since they are frequently overlooked. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day are the days when candle fires are most likely to happen.
Christmas Décor
During the winter holiday season, fatal fires aren’t just started by candles. The obvious offenders have illuminated holiday decorations and Christmas trees. Live trees that are neglected and allowed to dry out are simple pickings for hot lights to burn down.
Electrical Devices and Systems
Any electrically powered device has the potential to cause a fire, but overheated lighting equipment tops the list. Inadequately done electrical work in a home, such as loose wires, poorly grounded circuits, and poorly connected circuits, can also be dangerous.
Smoking
The result of careless smoking behaviours is one of the most frequent causes of house fires. Smoking can occasionally cause people to nod off. They run the risk of starting a fire in their sofa, bed, or other furniture, which is sometimes fatal. Still-hot ashes being thrown into a garbage can, where they might ignite, is another preventable risk.
Gases and Chemicals
Natural gas or propane gas sources may quickly start home fires. A combustible condition can be produced by an accidental spark and a little leak. It’s vital to carry out such activities outside the home environment since improperly combined household chemicals might also cause combustion.
Lightning
In the summer, when afternoon and early evening storms are at their strongest, lightning fires are most frequent. Homes in densely forested settings are particularly susceptible to lightning strikes that might ignite the surroundings.
Youngsters
One of the main causes of house fires is young children accidentally playing with fire or matches inside the house. Younger children who are aware of the dangers of fire and simply want to watch what happens are just as hazardous. Talking to kids about how reckless conduct around fire may be damaging might help prevent potential tragedy, even if it may not be easy to completely quell their interest.
Grill or BBQ
In comparison to other seasons, the summer is the worst for this. Several factors, including closeness to combustibles like dry grass or a gas leak, might cause an uncontrolled flame to start on a barbeque grill. Cooking on stone or another flame-resistant material or keeping a close eye on an active grill may reduce the chance of these mishaps. You can also check for gas leaks before lighting the grill.
Typical Fires That Derail
Sometimes it’s impossible to avoid. Fire is famously difficult to manage, even when we do everything right, adhere to all the guidelines, and use common sense.
This is often not a problem if handled properly, but even a single wayward ember from an active flame might ignite something, like a carpet.
Never leave an interior fireplace alone and use caution in its vicinity.
We hope you enjoyed our list of common house fire causes and take note of what to do when dealing with a dangerous fire situation and how to avoid them. If your home is not properly equipped to deal with a fire and missing a fire alarm system, then click here for professional installation services.
CONTACT OUR TEAM ON 0800 151 2831 OR 07727 428 660 FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING FIRE/SMOKE ALARM INSTALLATION.
