A fire in your home can cause property damage, serious injuries, and even death. Many homeowners believe that having a fire extinguisher and smoke alarms is enough to stay safe. The key is actually to know what causes house fires and take steps to avoid those cases. If you have been burned in a fire in which someone else was at fault, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
- Kitchen Equipment Equipment in the kitchen is the top cause of home structure fires and injuries from home fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, about two-thirds of home cooking fires began with food or another cooking material catching fire. Equipment in the kitchen that most commonly causes fires including stovetops, appliances, and pans. The best way to prevent kitchen fires is to cook safely and not leave food unsupervised while it is cooking.
- Light Bulbs Believe it or not, a substantial number of house fires begin with the homeowners just flipping a switch on their wall. If the lightbulb is not the right size, the wattage could result in an overheated lightbulb – which could then explode and lead to a fire. Always replace sockets and lamps with the right type and wattage of bulb.
- Fireplaces or Other Heating Elements Fireplaces can help reduce electricity costs but they can also cause fires if they are not taken care of. In fact, the NFPA found that the most common cause of home heating fires between 2009 – 2013 was homeowners failing to clean the creosote in their chimneys. If you have a chimney, fire someone who is credited by the Chimney Safety Institute of America or the National Chimney Sweep Guild to clean your chimney at least once per year.
- Clothes Dryers It is hugely convenient to have a clothes dryer in your home – but it can also be deadly. If a dryer is not properly cleaned, it can catch fire. To prevent this, remove lint from the lint tray every single time you use your dryer. You should also check the hose in the back of your dryer on a regular basis. If it is clogged, it could cause a fire. Last year there were nearly 3,000 fires in dryers that caused about $35 million in property loss.
- Bad Wiring or Other Electrical Issues An outdated electrical system is a serious hazard that should be fixed right away. There are an average of 47,000 home fires each year and electrical failures and/or malfunctions make up a good number of them.
