Property loss, major injuries, and even death can all result from a fire in your house. Many people assume that having a fire extinguisher and smoke alarms is sufficient protection. The goal is to understand what causes home fires and take precautions to avoid them. For a free legal consultation, call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you were burnt in a fire caused by someone else’s negligence.
Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen equipment is the leading source of house building fires and injuries caused by home fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, food or other cooking materials caught fire in around two-thirds of household cooking fires. Stovetops, appliances, and pans are among the most typical kitchen items that cause fires. Cooking carefully and avoiding leaving food alone while it cooks is the greatest approach to avoid kitchen fires.
Bulb Types
Believe it or not, a large majority of house fires start with the homeowners just turning on a light switch. The wattage might result in an overheated lightbulb, which could then burst and cause a fire if the lightbulb is not the proper size. Always use the correct kind and wattage of bulb when replacing sockets and lights.
Other Heating Sources, such as Fireplaces
Fireplaces may help save money on electricity, but if not properly maintained, they can also cause fires. In fact, the NFPA discovered that between 2009 and 2013, the most prevalent cause of home heating fires was householders neglecting to clean the creosote in their chimneys. If you have a chimney, get it cleaned at least once a year by someone certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America or the National Chimney Sweep Guild.
Dryers for Clothes
Having a clothes dryer in your house is really convenient, but it may also be dangerous. It is possible for a dryer to catch fire if it is not properly cleaned. Remove lint from the lint tray every time you use your dryer to avoid this. Check the hose at the back of your dryer on a frequent basis as well. It might catch fire if it becomes blocked. Nearly 3,000 dryer fires occurred last year, resulting in a $35 million damage of property.
Other Electrical Issues or Bad Wiring
An out-of-date electrical system is a major threat that has to be addressed immediately. Electrical failures and/or faults account for a significant portion of the 47,000 residential fires that occur each year.
If you are wounded in a home fire and feel someone else is to blame, we highly advise you to contact a personal injury attorney to learn about your options. For a free legal consultation, call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707.
