Three recent Mequon fires caused by recalled humidifiers left local officials reminding residents to check their appliances against recall lists. These fires also serve as a good reminder to review your general fire safety awareness. Keep reading to learn about more common causes of house fires and what you can do to reduce your risks.
Outdoor Cooking Accidents
Grills, fire pits, and outdoor flames cause house fires in two ways. One is by melting your home’s siding or other flammable surfaces when they’re placed to close to your home. The other is when burning embers float onto your home.
Be sure to keep grills and other flames well away from your structure, and watch the wind when you aren’t using a closed lid.
Improper Storage of Flammable Liquids
Improperly stored flammable liquids can ignite from excessive heat or sudden sparks. Store liquids like paint, solvents, and lawn appliance fuel only in approved containers. If you have rags soaked in flammable liquids, dispose of them in an outdoor metal trash can rather than leaving them lying around.
Dirty Dryer Vents
Cleaning your lint trap after every load isn’t enough. Lint still gets through into your dryer vent and can build up in the tube. When it does, the heat of your dryer can easily start a fire. Be sure to clean your dryer vent all the way through to the outside of your home at least once per year.
Unattended Candles
Unattended candles can meltdown, be knocked over by children or pets, or unexpectedly heat up and ignite nearby surfaces. Only use candles when you’re in the room to enjoy them, and never leave them burning overnight or when you’re taking a nap.
Overloaded Electric Outlets
Electrical fires and other injuries can happen when you overuse or misuse your electrical outlets. This is especially true in older homes that weren’t designed for the electrical needs of modern appliances and electronic devices.
As a general rule, use only one appliance or large electronic device per outlet. Power strips should be used for surge protection or small devices like cell phones. Overloading a power strip can cause the circuit to overheat and set fire to the insulation surrounding the wires.
Also, consider installing AFCI and GFI outlets to protect you against overheating and shocks. Newer homes have these as required by modern building codes, but many older homes were never upgraded.
Portable Heaters
Portable heaters should only be used on hard, flat, non-flammable surfaces. These appliances routinely cause fires when they’re placed too close to a flammable surface, such as a sofa, or are tipped over.
Even though newer models have automatic safety cutoff switches, it’s still not a good idea to leave these devices unattended.
Indoor Cooking Hazards
A large portion of home fires start on the stove. This includes things like grease fires, food left unattended, and kitchen towels left near a burner.
Always use care when cooking, and never store anything on top of your stove for any length of time. Don’t leave the room when cooking.
If you do have a kitchen fire, remember that it probably involves grease, and water makes grease fires worse. Smother the fire with the frying pan lid if you can, or use a fire extinguisher designed for kitchen fires.
To learn more about how to protect your homes from fires and whether you have enough coverage to protect your home and all of your possessions, contact Insurance Innovations, Inc today.
