Top 10 Causes Of House Fires
A clean up after house fires can be a time consuming and painful process. Even if the fire is limited to just one room, it’s likely the damage wasn’t.
Smoke travels quickly around the home and many things such as soft furnishings may be unrecoverable.
The best way to avoid having to go through the painful process of a clean up after a fire is to be aware of the top causes of house fires. Here are the ten most common causes of house fires.
Cooking equipment
Most cooking fires start when the chef gets unwittingly inattentive or leaves the room whilst cooking. It only takes moments for grease and fat to catch fire.
Stay in the kitchen whilst cooking, especially when cooking with fat and high temperatures.
Heating equipment
Ensure any open chimneys are cleaned regularly.
Don’t use storage or portable heaters to dry clothes and ensure any portable heaters are kept away from furnishings such as curtains, blankets and upholstered furniture.
Careless Smoking
A cigarette butt can smoulder for hours before combusting so ensure the only place they end up is in an ashtray.
Make sure your ashtrays are deep and not resting on anything combustible.
Don’t smoke in bed and supervise any smokers who may be smoking whilst on medication that could make them drowsy.
Electrical equipment
Use a licensed electrician wherever possible and ensure that you don’t overload sockets.
Check cables for bare wires and ensure they don’t become trapped under heavy furniture or indoors.
Candles
Leaving candles unattended is one of the leading causes of house fires.
They’re pretty, they create a relaxing atmosphere, but left unattended, they can also be very dangerous.
Children playing with matches
Matches, matches never touch … need we say more?
Keep matches out of the reach of children and teach them about the dangers of playing with matches and lighters from an early age.
Inadequate wiring
If your electric cabling is inadequate there could be warning signs.
Look out for lights that dim when you turn on another electrical outlet and fuse switches that trip regularly.
Get a professional electrician in to take a look if you suspect there may be a problem.
Flammable liquids
Ensure you store flammable liquids in a cool space, such as a garage, but not where cars are kept or woodwork or metalwork are carried out that could cause sparks.
Even just overheating flammable liquids can be enough to cause a house fire.
Christmas trees and decorations
The combination of dry wood and leaves and faulty electrics can be dramatic. So it’s no surprise that Christmas decorations are one of the leading causes of house fires here in the UK. Then there are those foliage candle holders.
Double check Christmas lights for signs of wear and tear before they go anywhere near a tree, and don’t leave candles unattended.
Barbecues
It doesn’t take much for a barbecue to get out of control.
Ensure your barbecue is tended to at all times. Make sure it’s situated on hardstanding, away from houses and outbuildings, and do not use barbecues on balconies.
If you’re in need of some professional help and support to clean up after fire damage has affected your home or property, contact Rainbow International Derbyshire on 01623 443109 or [email protected]