When there is an accidental fire, the chances of it spreading uncontrollably in seconds are higher that can even decimate a house within minutes. It can endanger everyone living in the house. Even when the small fire is put-off as quickly as possible, the chances of damage could be much higher. So having an insurance policy is a must. It helps to lessen the financial losses associated with the accidental fire.
There are different ways to prevent the conditions that lead to a fire in your house in the first place. Fire can start in different ways but can be broadly categorized into two main reasons –
- The fire caused by heat igniting combustible materials
- The fire caused by a chemical reaction
There are a lot of things around the house that can cause a fire when the situation is left overlooked. Listed below are some of the common reasons for the fire at your home. Keep reading to find what they are –
Kitchen appliances
About 48 percent of the fire in residential places is caused by careless cooking. And it is considered as the most common type of fire in the houses that is left unsupervised. They are often caused by the greases that are a highly flammable substance that gets overheated on the stove or an oven. Grease, when reaches about 600 degrees Fahrenheit can combust spontaneously, without even direct contact with the flame. Thoroughly clean your cookware can help to prevent grease from building up and avoid the instances of fire in the kitchen.
Cooking appliances, such as toasters and electric griddles are the next source of fires when left unsupervised. Ensure that the appliances are regularly cleaned and cooled down after it is used and packed back for storage.
Heating Appliances
The second most leading reason for catching fire at home is from the heating appliances such as home space heaters and baseboard heaters. The heaters can cause a fire on the fabric that is left carelessly near the heaters. The faulty electrical wiring can result in fire from the electric heater. Ensure to follow all the instructions on the heating appliances as directed by the manufacturer. Inspect the appliances regularly for ensuring that wiring is intact.
Smoking
Smoking is dangerous to health and for the house and is best to avoid the habit. Single stray ash has ignited the mattress or any fabric that it falls on to lead to the inevitable danger.
Candles
Lighting candles at home on a special occasion is a great idea, but ensure to be extremely safe with handling candles and the matches or lighter used to light the candles. Avoid children near the candles and never leave a candle to continue burning in any unattended rooms.
Electric wires
Short circuits can result in causing sparking that results in igniting the flammable material around it. Circuits overloaded with current can also cause the wire to get overheat and result in fire. Ensure that the electrical system that is installed in your house is safe and has built-in protective features. Old and faulty wiring system should be changed to avoid short circuits and overloading.