Most Common Causes of House Fires

6/30/2017 (Permalink)

If you or a loved one has suffered from a house fire, contact our fire damage specialists immediately for 24/7 disaster help!

Fires are one of the most terrifying and devastating accidents that can occur in a home. Most victims of house fires will agree that they never saw it coming and never thought a tragedy like that would happen to them. Unfortunately, fires are unpredictable and alarming no matter how they happen and preparing is something that homeowners seldom think about. According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 1.3 million fires required U.S. fire departments responses in 2015. On average in our nation, a home fire occurs every 86 seconds. This means that there is no such thing as being too prepared for a house fire.

More than three-quarters of civilian fire deaths are caused by home structure fires. As such, homeowners must be aware of the threat of a fire in order to hopefully prevent one from occurring. In fact, research shows that the majority of home fires are completely avoidable. Having a complete understanding of typical house fires causes can play a critical role in prevention. The most common causes of house fires are:

1. Cooking/cooking equipment
2. Careless smoking
3. Heating equipment
4. Electrical equipment
5. Lighting equipment
6. Intentional fires (arson)
7. Candles
8. Curious kids
9. Poor wiring
10. Lightning
11. Barbecues
12. Flammable liquids
13. Christmas decorations and trees
14. Dryers and washing machines

Smoke alarms and sprinkler systems are critical for any homeowner. Most homes in the U.S. have smoke alarms, however, about 60 percent of fire deaths come from homes without smoke alarms or with non-working smoke alarms. From more obvious dangers like cooking and smoking to less obvious dangers like flammable liquids and poor wiring, being aware of the most common causes of house fires is essential to preventing them from occurring. If you or a loved one has suffered from a house fire, contact our fire damage specialists immediately for 24/7 disaster help!