Home fires cause millions of dollars in damage each year, and cost lives. Many of these fires are caused by preventable situations. We have compiled a list of the top 3 home fire hazards.
1. Cooking
This may come as a surprise to most of you (just kidding) but almost half of all home fires are from cooking-related accidents. So how is cooking so dangerous? Most of these fires caused by cooking start because of unattended cooking; people start cooking but then get easily distracted and forget that they’re stove is on, thus allowing things to get hot enough to burst into flames. To prevent this, try not leave the same room that you are cooking in, don’t start cooking if you are tired or if you’ve been drinking, check your food that is cooking regularly, and keep flammable items far away from any open flames.
2. Space Heaters
These tiny little heat blowers can cause a lot of mayhem for a household if left unattended. Heaters can easily catch household items on fire that’s why you should place them at least 3 feet away from anything in the room. Remember to always turn off the heater when you leave the room and to never allow children to be alone in the same room as a heater. Taking these precautions will lessen the chance of a fire at home.
3. Smoke Detectors
These safety devices play a vital role in the safety of families. When smoke detectors aren’t in place or in working condition, it increases the response time of household members to fires, thus placing the family and the home in harms way. Every second matters when it comes to responding to fires and the smoke detectors can be the difference between life and death. To keep your home safe, check your smoke detectors twice a year and place them near the main sources of heat in your home.