House fires are not something that we generally want to think about, but they are a serious possibility. The National Fire Protection Association reports that there are as many as 400,000 fires that happen in the United States every year. So no matter how much we want to just pretend like they aren’t a possibility for us, they aren’t something that we can just ignore. So it’s time to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Here and a few of the most common cause of house fires. Consider ways you can help protect these from happening in your home.
Cooking fires. Cooking fires account for 42% of reported fire incidents, and why not? There’s literally an open flame from the stove and/or intense heat from the oven that could easily set something on fire if someone isn’t paying close enough attention. Now I’m not saying that you should give up cooking all together and just go out to eat every night. That seems a little excessive, but you need to be paying attention. Don’t leave the kitchen while you are preparing food, especially if there is an open flame present.
Christmas tree fires. I know it’s not exactly Christmas time anymore, but you should still be prepared for this. Whenever you bring a Christmas tree into your home, you are also bringing in hazards along with it. Dry trees combined with Christmas lights can cause serious fires, so just make sure you are taking care of your tree. Make sure that you trim it before you put it up, and constantly water it while it is inside your home.
Smoking. Lit cigarettes can lead to many house fires each year resulting in about 1,000 deaths. Even just one small spark from a cigarette that wasn’t put out all the way can quickly lead to one very large fire. The big way to significantly reduce the risk of causing a house fire is by always smoking outside.
Candles. About 18,000 house fires are caused by candles every year. It’s true, candles smell fantastic, and they are a great help in getting rid of bad odors. However, most of the house fires caused by them are due to negligence. Just make sure that nothing is left in close vicinity of a lit candle and do not leave them unattended, especially near small children. If you are really worried about them, battery operated candles provide a safe alternative.
Preventing house fires. While it is impossible to prevent all potential causes of home fires, there are some basic things to keep in mind. You should be taking precautions to make your home as safe as you can. Another important tip is to make sure that you have a fire extinguisher inside your home in an easily accessible area in case a fire were to occur.
Resources:
http://24restore.com/7-most-common-causes-of-house-fires/
