5 Most Common Causes of House Fires

The common causes of house fires are well known, but that doesn’t mean they cannot happen unexpectedly. Fire is such an unpredictable force, and it can escalate very quickly, making what seemed to be a regular activity instantly dangerous. These fire-related accidents happen quickly but can be devastating. Fires easily cause thousands of dollars in property damage as well as injuries or fatalities. Everyone should use precautions when dealing with an open flame and understand what qualifies as a fire hazard at home.

In the meantime, prevention is better than cure. But in all other cases, we refer to the politician Bob Riley who said, “If my house is on fire, I don’t need the fire chief telling me I should not have built the house out of wood. I need somebody to put the fire out.”

Injuries that happen due to fire-related accidents can be severe. From third-degree burns to smoke inhalation, your family must actively prevent the most common causes of house fires. Not to mention the damage fire does to your home. The good news is, if your home has been damaged in a fire, you can contact an experienced property damage lawyer who will fight to make the insurance companies pay.

Below is a list of the most common causes of house fires, the damage they do, and how to prevent them.

1. Cooking

Cooking fires are the most common cause of home fires by far, accounting for 48% of all reported residential fires. It is also the leading cause of home fire injuries and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Home Structure Fires 2019 Report.
While the most common cause of home fires is kitchen fires, they are usually only seriously ignited by grease fires. When your cooking oil becomes too hot, exceeding 375 degrees Fahrenheit, it will start smoking and then burst into flames. If you start seeing wisps of smoke, you need to act fast to prevent the fire from igniting.

Here are a few tips to follow if you accidentally set a grease fire in your kitchen:

• Remove the source of heat
• Cover the lit oil with a metal lid
• Pour baking soda generously over smaller grease fires
• Use a Class B dry chemical fire extinguisher
• Escape and call 911

For grease fires, there are a few critical things to remember:

• Do not use water
• Do not transfer the burning pot anywhere
• Only baking soda is safe to use, not any other baking materials

2. Heating

Portable heaters are the second-leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. They cause so many fires because many homeowners don’t respect the spatial requirements required of these items. Heaters have specific instructions on the box or label to let their owners know how close they can be to other objects, furniture, or walls.

These are not just recommendations; these spatial requirements have been tested and are required to ensure your safe use of the product and to prevent any fires caused by them.
Leaving a heater next to a pile of clothes or a bare wall may cause a gradual build-up of heat that results in igniting the flammable object, piece of furniture, or wall. If a wall catches fire, you should evacuate as soon as possible and not risk your life.

With the wide variety of styles and types of space heaters, it is essential always to read the safety guidelines to keep you and your family safe from any potential fires caused by heaters. Be aware that heaters that use fuel (like kerosene) are more likely to cause a house fire than their electrical counterparts.

3. Electrical Fires

Fires caused by malfunctioning electrical outlets or faulty wiring account for a large portion of household fires. Electrical fires account for more than 51,000 house fires and over 500 deaths per year, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).

Have your home inspected before purchase to avoid potential accidents and problems resulting in an electrical fire. Plus, schedule occasional inspections to ensure your electrical system and lighting fixtures are up to code and safe. Replacing your fire alarms every decade and replacing the batteries is recommended by firefighters.

See if your local fire station will inspect your alarms for free. Several fire stations participate in this program and are happy to make sure you and your loved ones are safe.

4. Smoking

Smoking materials like cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are the leading cause of deaths in home fires, though they only account for 5% of all home fires; this is for a few reasons. Smoking materials lit inside are relatively small and easy to forget. While several individuals use smoking as a relaxing activity, there is a likelihood of falling asleep while smoking, leaving the lit material to drop on the floor to catch carpet or other flammable materials on fire.

It would be best to smoke outside whenever possible and never leave lit smoking materials unattended. If you must smoke indoors, do not lounge or relax on flammable furniture, which increases the risk of falling asleep. If you’re smoking, remain alert and aware the whole time.
Most deaths from fires started in the living room, den, family room, or bedroom. If you smoke, be sure to put out any lit butts fully and not just toss them. Smoking-related deaths happen most commonly due to the smoker falling asleep and not rousing quickly enough.

5. Candles

Who doesn’t love candles? We use candles to celebrate birthdays, see in the dark, and relax. But we should never forget that candles are an open flame in our homes. Candles account for 3% of all home fire deaths, and roughly one-third of all house fires started by candles are found in the bedroom. Twenty-one candle fires are reported per day, causing 6% of home fire injuries.

A candle should never be left unattended and should be extinguished before leaving the room or going to bed. Homeowners should consider other options like battery-operated flashlights instead of emergency candles and remember to keep all flammable materials at least 12 inches away from candles at all times.

Fire Safety Should Be a Top Priority

At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we know a house fire can be devastating, and that’s why we encourage all families to follow these fire safety rules.

Don’t be a hero.

During a house fire, the torture of not knowing if your loved ones are safe can be excruciating. You may feel the urge to dive back into danger to be sure they are safe, which only increases the odds of injury or death to yourself.

You are not trained and do not have the gear to navigate the flames safely. Wait for firefighters to arrive on the scene and inform them of anyone who may still be in the fire.

Minimize risk at home.

It’s necessary to consider the top five most common causes of house fires. Make sure those in your home know how to cook and that little ones stay away from stoves. Keep all candles and portable heaters a safe distance away from walls, clothes, and other items. Get your wiring inspected and never smoke indoors.

Fire alarms should be checked every six months.

If your fire alarms aren’t working or have malfunctioned, then they will not notify you of a fire in your home. Many fire stations will check your fire alarms free of charge. Call your local fire station to see if they offer this service.

Everyone should plan and practice escape plans.

Crafting an emergency fire escape plan is necessary, especially if you have small children.

1. Review where to go
2. How to exit the house
3. How to stay under the smoke
4. Identify a meetup location.

Reviewing this plan can help your family reduce panic during a house fire.

Fire extinguishers should be in the home.

Fire extinguishers are great to have on hand when preparing for a possible house fire but should only be used sparingly. Extinguishers can only put out relatively small fires, and it depends on the type of fire as well. Grab it if you can, but do not rely on it in a house fire.

The effects of fire can be devastating. In the event of a fire, your homeowner’s insurance should be handled by capable adjusters and insurance agents. But if you feel the insurance company is undercutting or denying your claim unfairly, give Steinger, Greene & Feiner a call. We will make sure any claim is handled correctly and paid the coverage you are entitled to.