What Are the Common Causes of House Fires?

9/1/2021 (Permalink)

symbol of a house with a roof on fire

What Are the Common Causes of House Fires?

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are nearly 350,000 house fires every year in the United States. House fires are one of the most common at-home disasters.

What is even scarier is they can happen at a moment's notice. And, once they spark, a home can go up in flames within minutes.

Even if the fire does not destroy the house, smoke damage can ruin the interior, exterior, and belongings. But how do house fires start? If you want to know the answer, keep reading to learn the most common causes of house fires and how to prevent them.  

Cooking Fires

If you wonder how a house caught on fire, cooking may be to blame. Cooking fires are one of the most common mishaps. Many times, these happen because of grease slipping down into the burner.

When grease hits an intense amount of heat, a fire can spark. Sometimes, these flames are minuscule and go away. However, there are instances where they shoot up and grow out of control.

To prevent this type of fire damage, ensure no grease falls into your burning while you cook. You also want to clean out your burners to prevent grease build-up.   

Electrical Fires

Faulty wiring in your house can spark and light a fire in your walls. That is why it is critical to pay attention to your home's electrical system.

If something isn't working right, you might want to call someone out to inspect the situation. Allowing poor electrical wiring to persist can eventually lead to a fire. 

Smoking Fires

Another main house fire cause is due to smoking cigarettes. An estimate of 100,000 fires occurs due to smoking inside. All it takes is for someone to drop a cigarette on a flammable surface.

People will sometimes fall asleep with a lit cigarette in hand that eventually falls to the floor. To ensure this doesn't happen to you, make a rule or habit of smoking outside and putting the cigarette out in an ashtray. 

Candle Fires

Candles are nice objects to have in the house. They add mood lighting and a wonderful smell. However, candles are also easy to forget.

If they burn for too long, a candle flame could catch with another object like a table. A pet might even knock it over and set fire to your home.

If you are a candle person, try to set reminders on your phone. That way, you get notified to blow them out before leaving. 

SERVPRO Helps With Common Causes of House Fires

As you can tell, there are several causes of house fires that you can work to prevent. Simple tasks like cooking or lighting candles can result in thousands of dollars in damages.

If you do experience a fire, then your home may have extensive smoke damage. If you want to know what to do after a fire, SERVPRO in Tallahassee, Florida, is here to help.

We offer professional, 24-hour emergency services to help with fire restoration and repair. Feel free to contact us today. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.