Top Causes of a Home Fire

A house can easily catch fire from the misuse of appliances and heating equipment to smoking in bedrooms. I have personally seen fires from each of the 10 causes below right here in our community. You can take measures to avoid fire in home and ensure the safety of your family. Below are some of the most common causes and some tips to take precautions.

1. Cooking Equipment Pots and pans can overheat and cause a fire very easily if the person cooking gets distracted and leaves cooking unattended. Always stay in the room, or ask someone to watch your food, when using a stove.

2. Heating Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from anything that could easily catch fire such as furniture, curtains, laundry, clothes and even yourself. Have your furnace inspected once a year to make sure it is working to safety standards.

3. Smoking in bedrooms Bedrooms are best to be kept off limits for smoking. A cigarette that is not put out properly can cause a flame, as the butt may stay lit for a few hours. It could burst into flames if it came into contact with flammable materials, such as furniture. Did you know that fires started in the bedroom or lounge make up 73% of all house fire fatalities?

4. Electrical Equipment An electrical appliance, such as a toaster can start a fire if it is faulty or has a frayed cord. A power point that is overloaded with adapter plugs can cause a fire from an overuse of electricity. A power point extension cord can also be a fire hazard if not used appropriately. Double check the appliances and power points in your home.

5. Candles Candles look and smell pretty, but if left unattended they can cause a room to easily burst into flames. Keep candles away from any obviously flammable items such as books and tissue boxes. Always blow a candle out before leaving a room.

6. Curious Children Kids can cause a fire out of curiosity, to see what would happen if they set fire to an object. Keep any matches or lighters out of reach of children, to avoid any curiosity turned disaster. Install a smoke alarm in your child’s room and practice a home escape plan with your children and family in case there was a fire. Teach kids understand the "Stop, drop and roll" drill as well as knowing their address if they needed to call 911.

7. Faulty Wiring Homes with inadequate wiring can cause fires from electrical hazards. Some signs to see if you’ve bad wiring are: 1) Lights dim if you use another appliance; 2) For an appliance to work, you have to disconnect another; 3) Fuses blow or trip the circuit frequently. Have a licenced electrician come and inspect you house, or contact your landlord if you have any of the above occurrences.

8. BBQs BBQs are great for an outdoor meal, but should always be used away from the home, tablecloths or any plants and tree branches. Keep BBQs regularly maintained and cleaned with soapy water and clean any removable parts. Check the gas tank for any leaks before you use it each time. It's best to store your outdoor grill several feet away from your home or garage.

9. Flammable Liquids If you have any flammable liquids in the home or garage such as gas, propane or kerosene, keep them away from heat sources and check the label before storing. Be careful when pouring these liquids.

10. Lighting Lamp shades and light fittings can build up heat if they are very close to light globes. Check around the house to make sure. Lamp bases can become a hazard if they are able to be knocked over easily, and so should be removed if they are. Check that down lights are insulated from wood paneling or ceiling timbers.