What is Fire Damage & How Does It Happen?

10/15/2021 (Permalink)

East Baton Rouge Fire Damage

Fire damage happens much more in America than most people realize. America averages about 1.3 Million fires, 4000 deaths, 17,000 injuries and over 15 Million in damages per year. Fire damage in America is much more common than people realize and in this blog I am going to explain some of the main causes of fires in America and hopefully this knowledge can help you prevent some of those with proper education.

What Causes Fires in America?

          In America there is a Fire every 24 seconds and they sweep through homes, apartment buildings, commercial buildings and businesses with very little warning and no care for property or human life. The most common causes of fire are sometimes unknown to people but the knowledge of these things can absolutely minimize the chances of them occurring. Knowledge is power and the when it comes to fire most of them are preventable with a little planning and understanding.

• Fire Accidents in the Kitchen

Most fires in America happen in the kitchen and spread from the kitchen to the rest of the house or business. The main reason that fire mostly originates in the kitchen is because the kitchen is the primary location for all heat sources in the home or business. These sources can range from many different items including Air Fryers, Ovens, Toasters, Microwaves and a variety of other kitchen appliances and apparatuses.

• Electrical Malfunctions

Electrical malfunctions are more and more prominent in America as our homes and businesses are becoming more and more filled with various electronics, computers, entertainment systems and household appliances. Faulty wiring in the home near a fuel source or faulty wiring in an appliance or piece of equipment can cause a variety of flare ups that can end in a major fire.

• Open Flames

One major cause of fires in homes and businesses that people forget about is open flames. These can happen when people make bonfires, camping fires, yardwork/debris fires or that just flare up from a heat source in the yard. Another often misunderstood example of open flame fires is from candles or incense. You can reduce this from happening by severely limiting all open flames and using flameless candles instead.

• Major Heat Producers

Major heat producers in our homes that can sometimes be overlooked are fireplaces and space heaters. These items can become increasingly more dangerous if they are ever kept near rapid fuel sources in the home like kerosene, gas or lighter fluid. There are other fuel sources that are less rapid yet just as deadly like rugs, curtains or old clothing. Make sure you are checking your home regularly to limit these type of potential hazards.

• Smoking

While there are many smokers in America who enjoy the practice of smoking outdoors some people prefer to smoke indoors in their favorite chair or on their favorite couch. The main danger happens here when those smokers fall asleep and create a dangerous scenario. The ash from a cigarette can ignite quickly and cause a major fire before the sleeping home owners can even realize what has happened.

Many of these various forms of fire can be prevented by taking inventory of your home and understanding how important it is to remove fuel sources, check all wiring, minimize open flames, inspect heat producers and minimize indoor smoking. If you have any other questions or concerns please feel free to give us a call at SERVPRO of East Baton Rouge at (225)753-3434