The Leading Sources of Household Fires

The National Fire Protection Association reports that there are as many as 400,000 house fires every year in the United States.

 

This leaves our most valued possessions at risk. Preparation is the best defense since you can’t constantly be vigilant against a fire. Take precautions to prevent the most common causes of house fires, and consider a home safe to protect key valuables as your last line of defense.

 

Let’s go over the leading sources of household fires so that you and your family are prepared for the typically unexpected.

 

 

Cooking Fires

The #1 cause of house fires, accounting for 42% of reported incidents, is cooking. Open flames from the stove and intense heat in the oven easily result in a fire when unsupervised. Most often food or cooking tools catch fire and quickly lose control. While giving up cooking all together may be a bit extreme, paying extra attention and never leaving the kitchen while preparing food is an easy way to reduce this risk.

 

 

Household Candles

An estimated 18,000 house fires are caused by candles each year. Most of the incidents are due to negligence. Leaving a lit candle unattended can quickly lead to a fire. Numerous flammable materials in the vicinity of a candle can easily catch fire. Reduce this risk by trimming the wick of your candle to help limit the size of the flame, or use battery-operated candles.

 

 

Christmas Tree Fires

It’s coming up soon. Every winter families all around the world bring large trees into their homes to celebrate a beloved holiday. However, Christmas trees can easily become a significant fire hazard. Dry tress combined with strings of lights quickly turn into fire sticks.

 

Before placing the tree in your home cut off an inch or so from the bottom of the trunk, removing any dead wood that would prevent the tree from soaking up water. Be vigilant about watering your tree, keep it hydrated! Also, be sure to turn off Christmas lights when you go to sleep at night. Or, avoid the risk altogether by getting an artificial tree!

 

 

Smoking

Smoking is the source of many house fires leading to almost 1,000 deaths a year. Lit cigarettes accidentally dropped on any number of household items can quickly become large fires. Only smoking outside will reduce this risk significantly.

 

 

Appliances, Heaters, & Children Playing with Fire

Other common causes of home fires include overuse of appliances, home heating systems, and children playing with fire. Faulty or over-used appliances can easily cause a fire with just a few sparks. Heating systems, especially space heaters and wood stoves, can ignite household items nearby.

 

The curiosity of young children can also lead to threatening fires. Playing with matches, lighters, and candles led to 56,300 fires between 2005 and 2009. Keeping these items out of the reach of children and educating them about the importance of fire safety can help reduce this risk.

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