House fires are often caused by everyday tasks that we don’t think twice about. While investing in smoke and fire detectors is an important part of keeping your home and family safe, it’s equally important to know the leading causes of house fires and how to prevent them.

Here’s what you should know.

1. Kitchen Fires

Cooking is the leading cause of house fires. According to the NFPA, 49% of house fires that occurred between 2016 and 2020 were started by cooking. Unattended cooking is the most common way that kitchen fires start.

Never leave something on the stove unattended, no matter how low the temperature may be. Always use an oven timer to remind you of anything you have baking. Don’t assume you’ll remember because it’s easy to get distracted by other things or even fall asleep on the couch while waiting.

Your home should always have fire extinguishers available in the event a fire is sparked. Don’t keep your kitchen fire extinguisher near the stove because you won’t be able to grab it if that’s where the fire is.

The entrance of the kitchen is the best place to store your fire extinguisher. In addition, you should have a fire extinguisher that is capable of fighting class F grease fires. Fire Armour explains that normal Class A/B/C dry powder fire extinguishers cannot put out grease fires effectively due to the high temperature of grease, which will reignite the fire.

2. Candles

Candles might add ambiance and scent to your home, but they are also a fire hazard. This is especially true if you have children or pets. A candle is an open flame and should be treated with extreme care.

It is important to keep candles out of reach and to ensure that they are not near flammable items such as curtains, furniture, bedding, home decor, and clothing.

According to the NFPA, candles caused 4% of house fires between 2018 and 2022. Don’t leave candles unattended even if you’re home alone, and always make sure they are fully out before leaving the home or going to bed.

3. Faulty Wiring

If you’ve noticed that your lights flicker or dim when another appliance is in use, this is a good indication that you may have faulty wiring. Another result of faulty wiring is frequently blown fuses. If you experience these issues, have a professional inspect your wiring.

Never use appliances with fraying wires or signs of damage. The heat from exposed wires can start fires when in contact with combustible items such as curtains, rugs, other floor surfaces, clothing, children’s toys, and more. Avoid placing cords under rugs, as this is also known to start electrical fires.

4. Portable Heaters

Another common cause of house fires is portable space heaters. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, while only 3% of house fires were started by portable heaters between 2017 and 2019, they accounted for 41% of fatal heating fires in homes. 27% of non-confined residential building heating fires began because the heat sources were too close to combustibles.

If you use a space heater, keep it at least one meter away from other items. It’s also important to have it checked annually to ensure it meets safety standards.

By following the precautions covered here, you can avoid the most common causes of house fires. Of course, it’s essential to have an operational fire alarm system within your home to warn you if a fire should occur. To add a layer of protection, having your fire alarm system monitored to notify the fire department will help limit any fire related damage whether you are home or not.

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