Top 5 Causes Of Fire Damage

There are many reasons a home could catch fire and go down in flames. It is important to be aware of these causes so that you may prevent them as much as you can. Many house fires are results of carelessness or irresponsible activity.  Forgetting you put a pan in the oven or leaving your curling iron on next to tissues when you leave the house are two ways house fires could start out of nowhere. There is nothing more devastating than a family arriving to their home only to find ashes and debris where the house once stood. Here you will learn about five of the top causes of fire damage and some fire damage tips on avoiding this catastrophe.

Causes of House Fires:

1. Cooking

Cooking is the number one cause of house fires starting. Unfortunately we are not all world renowned chefs like we may think. Not only is this the number one cause in Sarasota, but in the entire United States.
There are many things you can do to be safer in the kitchen. These are things you must practice every day.

1. Never leave pot holders or towels near a stove or oven that is currently on or that has been on within the past two to three hours. Plastic bags, such as loaves of bread, should also be kept away from the hot machine. The towels can often be flammable and the melting plastic is a sure recipe for a fire to begin. It is so important to keep all papers and other flammable objects away from the stove at all times. Putting the kitchen linens in a specific drawer at a safe distance from the stove is a great routine to get in.
2. Be extra careful when frying foods or cooking in any other way that involves hot oils and greases. Oil and grease pop and crackle when hot. You must be very careful not to burn yourself but also not to let any oil or grease spill on the burner of the stove top.  This can cause an immediate fire. Any surrounding grease will serve as fuel to the fire. If a fire does break out remember to never use water to put it out. Oil fires must be put out with a fire extinguisher as the water will only splash the fire around and spread it on the walls and counters.
3. The last rule of the kitchen is simple: never leave a hot stove or oven unattended. Set a timer when cooking or baking so you do not forget to remove the item(s) and always remember to shut the oven or stovetop off when you are finished. This alone is a big step in prevention of kitchen fires.

Kitchen fires are completely preventable. You must always cook with caution and be as safe and careful as you can be. Another great tip is to store a fire extinguisher in your cabinet so that it is readily available at all times.  Practicing safe cooking will greatly reduce your risk of a house fire that originates in the kitchen. Read More