House fires are a very common yet preventable occurrence.
In the last few years, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued multiple new reports that lend detailed insight into the top reasons for residential house fires. This blog summarizes the top causes of house fires and some of the most interesting trends identified in these fire reports. Read on to learn more about the three most common reasons house fires begin in the first place!
Common Trends
The number of different residential fires and deaths has dropped by about half over the last 40 years. However, the recent data also shows that while there weren’t as many fires and fire deaths during this point, the number of people that die per 1,000 residential fires each year has remained quite consistent at around seven to ten deaths. Read on to learn how these house fires begin.
Cooking
The most recent piece of data from the NFPA show that cooking accounts for about half of all house fires reported every year. Almost half of these fires will cause injuries, and they’re the second leading cause of death in house fires. Since the 1980s, the amount of deaths and injuries has fluctuated with no real trend up or down. Most house cooking fires are smaller fires that do not spread beyond the pan, oven, or container in which they started. While these are considered smaller fires, more than half of the non-fatal injuries were caused when people tried to control the fire. Cooking grease, oil, and other fats are the top causes of fires that begin in the kitchen. Fire suppression systems and proper fire safety protocols can help you in case of a cooking fire.
Heating Equipment
Home heating equipment is also responsible for a large portion of all house fires reported every year and was the second leading cause of fire inside a home. Space heaters and wooden stoves account for a lot of the injuries and deaths resulting from home heating fires. Remember to turn off your space heaters, fireplaces, and stoves when they aren’t in use to prevent them from overheating.
Careless Smoking
While adult smoking has declined since the 1980s, smoking is still a cause for home fire deaths. Remember to put out all of your cigarettes after you smoke them, and double-check your smoke detectors and fire alarms to ensure they’re fully functioning. It can be the difference between life and death in some instances.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are located in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.