How to Prevent House Fires

June 12, 2023

A house fire can happen seemingly out of nowhere and spread quickly. Kitchen fires and electrical fires are the most common. You also need to be aware of other hazards that can cause house fires, like smoking, candles, flammable liquids, lint in the dryer vent, and BBQing.

Kitchen fires

The kitchen is the most common place in the home for fires to originate. There is grease, heat, electricity, and water all in the same room and there are several ways in which a fire can start.

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Grease fires

Grease fires happen when a frying pan is overheated or left unattended. A grease fire can spread quickly, especially if you try to put it out with water.

Flammable materials near the stove

Keeping anything flammable near the stove can quickly start a fire in your kitchen. Keep dish towels, wrappers, oven mitts, cardboard, and other items a safe distance away from a hot element.

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Electrical appliances come into contact with water

If a kitchen appliance comes into contact with water, a fire can start. Be careful to use appliances correctly and away from water.

Unattended cooking

Leaving the kitchen while you are cooking can start a fire if the oven, toaster, or toaster oven is turned up too high. Do not leave home even for a few minutes when you are cooking and do not get distracted with multitasking. Be extra careful if your kids are helping, so they do not make a mistake like putting metal in the microwave and starting a fire.

Electrical fires

Electricity is another common fire hazard. Electrical fires can start in a few ways.

• Plugging in too many appliances and electronics can overload a circuit and start an electrical fire. Use only one appliance that needs a lot of power, like a hair dryer or microwave, at a time on the same circuit. If lights flicker when you turn something on, that could mean the circuit is overloaded. If there is buzzing or crackling at an outlet or if a breaker flips often, call an electrician.
• Leaving a laptop on a soft, combustible surface like a couch or bed can block the air vents and cause it to overheat. An overheated lithium-ion battery can spontaneously combust or short circuit and start a fire.
• Faulty appliances can short-circuit and start electrical fires.
• Misused or damaged cords can start fires. If a cord is worn, a fire could start where the wires are exposed. Some appliances like air conditioners need heavy-duty cords.

BBQing

BBQ season is here and cooking on a grill is something to look forward to in the summer. But do not make the mistake of putting your BBQ or fire pit close to the house, a fence, or vinyl siding. These could easily catch fire. Portable heaters are also a common cause of house fires and are just as dangerous if used incorrectly outdoors. If you have a heater outside so you can BBQ when it is still a bit chilly, never leave it unattended and make sure it is not near anything flammable. keep BBQs and heaters at least 10 feet away from structures and trees.

Blocked dryer vents

Lint accumulates in the lint trap and vent of your dryer and can create a fire hazard. Clean out the lint trap every time you use the dryer and use a lint brush occasionally. The duct vent can also become filled with lint, especially if it has a flexible, accordion-type hose. If your laundry is taking too long to dry, the vent pipe could have an accumulation of lint. Unplug the dryer, disconnect the dryer duct from the back, and clean it out or call a professional.

Children playing with lighters or matches

Always supervise your kids when they are helping in the kitchen or by the BBQ and make sure they cannot access matches or lighters. Teach them about kitchen safety and not to cook without an adult around.

Smoking and candles

Partially extinguished cigarette butts are one of the most common home fire hazards. Fires can start when cigarette butts are thrown over a balcony in hot and dry weather. Putting cigarettes out in a planter is also dangerous because potting soil is drier and more fibrous and natural soil and the whole planter could ignite.

Candles present the same type of fire hazard. Never leave them unattended and make sure they are away from flammable materials and there is no breeze or draft. Have something under them to catch melting wax.

Improper storage of flammable liquids

Paint, jerry cans, or solvents can spontaneously combust in a hot garage. If the outside air is 35 degrees Celsius, the inside of the garage can be 40 or 45 degrees. When flammable liquids combine with oxygen at their flashpoint, they form gas that could combust. Some tools can also create sparks that ignite these gasses.

How to extinguish different types of fires

Water can make some fires worse. Here is what to do for each kind of fire. If a fire gets out of control, call 911.

Electrical fires

Do not try to extinguish an electrical fire with water because water is a conductor. If an appliance is on fire, unplug it if you can do so safely. Put out small fires with baking soda. Use a Class C or ABC Class fire extinguisher for electrical fires. Other classes could conduct electricity.

Grease fires

Never put water on a grease fire because it can make the grease explode and spread. Cover the fire with a metal lid or smother it with baking soda or salt. You can also use a Class B dry chemical fire extinguisher.

Flammable liquids

If a flammable liquid like gasoline, paint, alcohol, or propane, catches fire, extinguish it with a blanket or with a Class B fire extinguisher, which uses carbon dioxide, foam, or powder.

How to help prevent house fires

Keeping safety precautions in mind can help you prevent a fire.

• Test your smoke alarms often and change the batteries.
• Have an emergency plan for your family. Make sure everyone knows what to do if there is a fire and that kids understand fire safety rules.
• Never leave the stove or other kitchen appliances unattended when cooking.
• Keep the oven and stove clean to reduce the risk of a grease fire.
• Never smoke indoors. Smoke only outdoors and use an ashtray.
• Have fire extinguishers in the kitchen, garage, and every floor of your home.
• Check for recalls on appliances and electronics.
• Make sure power cords are not frayed and do not overload electrical circuits.
• Store chemicals in proper containers away from heat.