Top Fire Hazards In Your Home

4/14/2020 (Permalink)

The causes of house fires range from candles left burning to unattended food in the kitchen, and it is estimated that over ¾ of all structure fires are in residential properties. A lot of these fires are preventable by taking precautions, so today we want to share some of the top fire hazards,  along with safety tips to minimize your risks.

Candles. From 2009-2013, an average of 9,300 home fires in the U.S. were started by candles. That’s an average of 25 candle fires per day. Some safety precautions:

• Extinguish all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom.
• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.
• Use sturdy candle holders that won’t tip over easily.
• Never burn a candle all the way down.

Cooking is the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. Some safety tips include:

• Stay alert when cooking and don’t leave cooking food unattended.
• Wear close-fitted clothing with short or tightly rolled sleeves.
• Keep hot pads, oven mitts, wooden utensils, and towels away from any heat source.
• Do not place metal or foil in a microwave oven.
• Don’t throw water on a grease fire; put a lid on the pan to smother the fire.

Electrical. These fires can be caused by an equipment malfunction, an overloaded circuit, or an overheated appliance such as a washer, dryer or space heater. Take these safety precautions:

• Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
• Don’t overload circuits or outlets.
• Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you don’t have to use extension cords.
• Consider hiring an electrician to perform an annual checkup of your home’s wiring.

Space Heating. Space heaters accounted for one-third of home heating fires and four out of five home heating fire deaths. To be safe:

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have heating equipment cleaned and inspected annually.
• Turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.

If you experience water damage or fire damage in your home or business, always remember that SERVPRO of Belle Meade/West Nashville is ready to help! We’re mold remediation and prevention experts, too.