Preventing House Fires

A fire in your home can start from a number of different sources and they can be avoided about 95 percent of the time. The cause of fires is usually due to human error, carelessness, or neglect, but this does not have to be the case in your home.

One of the most common types of house fire is electrical. This can result from living in a home whose electrical circuitry is not up to code because it is either outdated or damaged. If you purchase a home that is a fixer upper, the home inspection that you have should tell you whether the electrical circuitry in the home needs to be replaced. You should also be aware that electrical fires cannot be put out with water, you need to use a fire extinguisher.

Make sure that you install light bulbs that are the correct wattage for whatever fixture you put them in. Do not exceed the recommended wattage, since it could overheat and catch the shade on fire. You should also not leave light sockets empty, so replace the bulbs as soon as you can.

Candles are also a large cause of house fires and the last thing you should ever do is leave them unattended or near cloth items like drapes or somewhere that they can be easily overturned. They are known for their comforting ambiance and can make you fall asleep if you are not careful. Use a flashlight if you have to check out a burned out pilot light or anywhere near gas-powered items.

Grease fires are most common in the kitchen and you should never begin heating grease on the stove and leave it unattended. Getting preoccupied with the telephone, family members, or household chores is the worst thing that you could do. If a grease fire does start in your kitchen and it is confined to the space of the pan or skillet, smother it with a pot lid. If it starts underneath the burner due to neglecting to clean it out, you can use your fire extinguisher or baking soda, but baking soda may be more practical as long as the fire has not spread beyond the burner. If it does go beyond the burner or the stove itself, use the fire extinguisher or call 911.

Your fireplace can also obviously be a source of house fires. They should be inspected, since chimneys will become covered with creosote over time. This is a buildup caused by burning wood in the fireplace over the years and it needs to be cleaned regularly.