Common Reasons for Housefires to Start

Having your home burn down is devastating. Not only do you lose everything you own, but you also lose the peace of mind that you once had. Often, these fires may be prevented if you have the right protection and plan ahead.

Here are some of the more common causes of house fires:

Appliances

Certain appliances are more commonly the cause of fires than others. You should be careful with anything that tends to heat up over a period of time or that generates large amounts of heat. For example, electric heaters, dryers, and stoves, as well as computers and slow cookers are all things that can result in a fire.

Smoking

A cigarette is a mini fire and if you fall asleep with it or accidentally drop it on a flammable surface, things could become very dangerous very quickly. The simplest way to prevent this is to only smoke outdoors in an area where nothing can catch.

Candles

Sadly, candles are the cause of many, many housefires. They are particularly common over the winter holidays, as people get busy and leave a candle burning unattended. Never leave a flame without supervision. In a matter of seconds, it can catch things on fire and you could lose it all.

Electrical Systems

Poorly done electrical wiring could end up causing short circuits in the walls of the home. However, it’s quite common that electrical sockets are overloaded and can short out, sparking a fire. Anything that is electrical can potentially start a fire, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on things and not overload electrical circuits.

Children

A child playing with a match or lighter can easily burn the house down. It’s essential to talk with your children about fire safety. You may wish to show them just how destructive fire can be by holding a demonstration outdoors or in the fireplace. Show them how fast a bit of paper or curtain can go up in flames.



Cooking

Minor fires often occur in the kitchen and most of them are put out rapidly with some quick thinking. However, you can end up in a lot of trouble if a grease fire gets away from you. It’s a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher next to the cooker and to ensure that you evacuate if necessary.

Understanding how fires start is the first step in fire safety. Next, you need to learn about how to put the fire out and carefully assess the risks in your home.

At Ace Fire and Security, we can provide you with a fire risk assessment of your home and ensure you know where the risks are. Stay protected and contact us now for more information.