5 Common Causes of House Fires in America

11/22/2021 (Permalink)

We always treat your family with the greatest empathy and respect, and we’ll treat your property with great care.

A house fire is easily one of the top worst nightmares of every homeowner. Even small fires can result in thousands of dollars worth of fire damage in Greenville despite being put out quickly. Fire is frighteningly unpredictable, so it’s essential to pull all stops in getting rid of all fire hazards in your home.

Generally, fires can start in two ways: they are caused by the contact of heat and combustible materials, the latter of which is ignited. The second way is by chemical reactions. Unfortunately, all homes are full of items that can combust given the right circumstances.

Kitchen Fires

Fires that occur in the kitchen are among the most common types of fires, usually caused by greases in a stove or oven that become overheated. To prevent grease fires, never leave the kitchen unsupervised when cooking with oil or food that produces grease.

Christmas Trees

Many families put up Christmas trees during the holidays as part of their tradition, although these are known to be fire hazards, especially when set up incorrectly. A single spark or hot light can cause the tree to catch fire and burn, which can engulf a room in flames in a few seconds. 

Candles

Even if you don’t have candles lit, leaving your matches and lighters within reach of your children can also lead to a fire. If you can’t bear to part with your candles, consider locking your matches and lighters in a secure place and keep candle flames 12 inches away from flammable materials. 

Electrical Fires

Electric fires usually happen due to short circuits that spark, igniting nearby materials, or overloaded circuits full of current, making wires overheat.

To prevent the possibility of electrical fires in your home, have your wiring inspected by a professional electrician. Additionally, avoid performing your own electrical repairs or improvements unless you have extensive experience and knowledge in doing so.

Heating Appliances

Appliances like heaters can ignite when they’re close to fabrics and other combustible items. Even cooling devices of certain types can lead to residential fires. 

To avoid this, always shut your heater off when you leave the house, as unsupervised appliances usually lead to house fires, mainly when homeowners aren’t around.

Conclusion

House fires can be incredibly devastating. It’s essential to save yourself the loss and heartache of fire damage by understanding the common causes of house fires in America and how to prevent them.