The Top 3 Reasons Fires Start in Your Home

Common, everyday tasks that typically go unnoticed can ultimately be the cause of a house fire. To help eliminate any fear that you and your family have, it’s important to invest in the proper fire safety equipment that will alert you in the case of an emergency. At First Alert, we offer a variety of products to help meet consumers' needs including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, home fire extinguishers, and fire escape ladders. Take note of the following common causes of house fires and help make sure your home is prepared with the proper fire safety equipment!

Cooking

The number one cause of house fires is unattended cooking. Make sure that you stay in the room while you are cooking with a heat source. If you cannot stay in the room the whole time, ask another adult in the family to watch over your food. When cooking food for long periods of time, use a timer so you don't lose track of time.

However, we know accidents happen so help prepare your house and family by having a residential fire extinguisher on hand! Fire extinguishers should be placed on every level of your house, especially in the kitchen and garage. You should also learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher to be prepared in the event you have to use one.

Heating Equipment

When the weather turns colder, heaters are essential to heat our houses. Space heaters should be used if only a small portion of your house needs to be heated. Keep your space heater away from anything that could easily catch fire, including curtains, laundry, blankets, and furniture to help prevent an emergency. If your home relies on a furnace during the winter, call a professional to get it inspected once a year to ensure it is running properly.

It is also important to practice carbon monoxide safety at home. Carbon monoxide can be produced by any fuel burning device, like your stove or furnace. For protection against a possible carbon monoxide leak, install carbon monoxide alarms. Alarms should be installed on every level of your home, outside of each sleeping area, and inside every bedroom. Test the alarms monthly to ensure they are functioning properly and replace the batteries every six months to help keep your family safe.

Faulty Wiring

Your home’s wiring likely isn’t something that you think about often. However, faulty wiring is a potential way for a house fire to start. There are common signs that can help you indicate if your house’s wiring isn’t working correctly like if the lights dim when you use another appliance, if you are only able to use one appliance at a time, and frequently blown fuses.

Your first line of defense against house fires is investing in smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, plus carbon monoxide alarms, to help protect your home and family. Browse the First Alert site for a wide variety of smoke alarms to find the alarm that best fits your home and families' needs!

Source: National Fire Protection Association