Top Risks of Starting an Accidental Home Fire

7/27/2020 (Permalink)

House fires can be started in one of two ways: either the fire is started by the heating up of combustible materials or from a chemical reaction.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than 350,000 home fires occur each year in the U.S., causing around 2,000 deaths. Within seconds, an accidental house fire can rapidly spread, putting everyone and everything in the home in serious risk of immediate danger. Generally, house fires can be started in one of two ways: either the fire is started by the heating up of combustible materials or from a chemical reaction.

No matter how the fire is started, these house fires can be scary and unpredictable, so it is vital to be aware of the most common causes of a house fire and have a proper restoration plan in place.

Here are the most common risks of starting an accidental house fire:

Cooking/In the Kitchen

Without a doubt, cooking presents the highest risk of starting an accidental home fire, starting about half of all home fires. With many risks in the kitchen, fires can start from a variety of places and it important to be aware of the most common causes. For example, grease is a highly flammable material and can easily become overheated on a stove or oven.

Many kitchen fires start when someone is cooking a food that produces grease, like bacon, and leaves the food unattended, and discovers the fire when it is too late. Also, toasters, crockpots, grills, and other cooking appliances can easily catch fire if left unattended or they have a buildup of crumbs inside the appliances.

Heating Appliances

After cooking fires, heating appliances, such as space heaters are the second leading cause of residential fires. Both heaters that require fuel, which can combust if not properly maintained and electrical heaters, where electrical wires can spark a problem, are at risk of starting a fire. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), heating appliances are responsible for around 25,000 home fires and more than 300 deaths in the U.S. each year. It is critical for the safety of your home to never leave the house with a heater running.

Smoking

When smoking cigarettes or other flammable substances, it is important to be aware of the potential for a hazardous fire. The National Fire Protection Association reports that fires started from cigarettes cause approximately 1,000 deaths a year in the United States. Even worse, many smoking fires occur when individuals are asleep, such as a cigarette butt catching carpeting, furniture, or other flammable materials on fire.

Electrical Fires

According to the EFSi (Electrical Safety Foundation international), faulty electrical wiring is responsible for 51,000 fires and around $1.3 billion in property damage each year.  These fires are typically a result of short circuits which then spark that ignites building materials, or either from circuits that are overloaded with current, causing wires to overheat. These fires can be deadly because they often start small and in hidden locations, and build up before residents are cognizant of them.

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