Top Causes of House Fires

8/18/2021 (Permalink)

Always be sure to keep candle flames at least a foot away from flammable materials.

When owing or renting your home there is always a potential for unforeseen circumstances, known as “Named Perils” in the insurance world.  Accidental fires are at the top of that list, while the correct insurance can help with coverage if a fire were to happen, the best circumstance would be to prevent the fire in the first place. If your home or business is affected by a fire, SERVPRO of Northeast Wichita handles cleanup and content storage. We are here to help 24/7/365.  Below are the top 5 reasons for house fires provided by the NFPA and how to help prevent them.

#5 Candles

Candles are common in most homes and can be dangerous if left unattended. Lit candles can be knocked over by animals, kids, or even adults by accident. You will want to keep candle flames at least a foot or more away from any materials that might ignite.

#4 Smoking

Smoking in your home can cause the potential for igniting fires from cigarette butts dropped on carpeting, furniture, or other flammable materials. Fires from cigarettes and smoking materials cause nearly 1,000 deaths and 3,000 injuries each year in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association. All it takes is a single ash to ignite something on fire. If you must smoke try to do it outside whenever possible or over a sink while using an ashtray.

#3 Electrical Fires

Electrical faults in home wiring cause many fires in homes each year. Older wiring systems can be prone to short circuits and overloading. Most current and properly installed electrical systems are very safe and usually have built-in protective features.

#2 Heating Appliances

Kansas winters can get extremely cold, most homes and offices will get space heaters to help keep things warm. If fabrics or other combustibles are left too close to the appliances this can easily cause a fire. Never leave your house with a heater running, and make sure flammables are kept away from the heaters.

#1 Cooking Related Fires

Cooking fires are among the most common types of house fires. Most kitchen fires happen because food is left cooking unsupervised. Around 49% of all residential fires are caused by cooking incidents. Never leave the kitchen unattended when cooking in oil or when cooking a food that produces grease. Make sure when storing portable appliances, they are cool to the touch.

If your home in Wichita is affected by smoke or fire damage give us a call so we can start making it “Like it never even happened.” at (316) 684-6700.