About 358,000 house fires occur in the US every year. These incidents can range from small fires in the kitchen, that are quickly extinguished, to the devastating and potentially deadly house fires that completely destroy the entire home. Aside from the obvious danger to lives, house fires can be financially costly and take an emotional toll. Naturally we all want to do everything we can to prevent them.
One effective method of prevention is to recognize the most common sources of house fires, and address those risks within your home. According to national statistics, house fires most commonly begin with the following incidents:
- Kitchen fires – particularly grease fires, but also incidents like kitchen towels left near toasters or microwaves being used incorrectly
- Christmas trees – if not watered regularly, Christmas trees provide the perfect dry kindling for a fire right in your living room
- Electrical fires – overloading outlets, using faulty appliances, and old wiring are common sources of electrical fires
- Candles – they’re pretty and they smell good, but open flames can spell disaster when used near curtains or when children get ahold of them
- Space heaters – heaters can ignite when placed too close to flammable objects like beds or fabrics
And of course, wildfires have become an increasingly common problem in recent years. While there isn’t much you can do about the occurrence of these natural disasters in your area, clearing excess tree limbs and lawn debris away from your property can help to reduce the risk that fire will spread to the main structure of your house. And we can all prevent wildfires by using safe practices when camping, and by not setting any fires when conditions are dry and officials issue warnings against them.
Preventing house fires should be top priority for all of us, but nothing is ever absolute. If you do experience fire damage within your home, call us right away so that we can help you assess the extent of the damage and help you clean and restore your home.