Keep Your Home Safe: Look for These Common Fire Hazards Around the House

11/4/2020 (Permalink)

Your home could be at risk for fire damage; be proactive and prevent common housefires.

Your home should be the safest place possible, especially if you have a big family. Fire hazards can pose a huge danger to the structure of your home and the safety of those living in your household. A house fire can spread rapidly, and burn an entire home down in a matter of minutes. Watch out for these common fire hazards you may not be aware of and keep your home free from the risk of fires year-round.

Unattended Candles

Candles are a major culprit of a number of house fires around the world. Leaving your candles lit when you leave the house or go to bed is leaving your drapery or other surrounding fabrics at risk for catching fire. Always remember to blow all of your candles out if you are not going to be around to attend to them. 

Heat Sources

Devices such as space heaters and radiators need to be closely monitored as they can easily get caught on blankets, drapes, and clothing. Remember to never depend on a space heater to heat your entire home and find other solutions that will be safer and long-lasting. Using your oven as a heater is also a big no-no in terms of fire safety, especially a gas stove; this poses a risk to a kitchen fire or even an explosion in your own home. Turn off your portable heaters before leaving the house or going to bed. 

Dryers

One of the most silent and undetectable sources of house fires is right inside your laundry room. That’s right; if you neglect to clean your dryer lint repository regularly, it can easily catch fire and create a huge blaze in your home. Remind yourself to clean the lint trap daily and ensure the exhaust vent is clear of any lint as well. 

Smoking

This is one of the leading causes of fire deaths in the nation. Smoking in the house is a danger in itself; falling asleep with a lit cigarette is all it would take to start a fire. It’s important to take the smoking outside and always ensure the butts are fully extinguished and placed in an ashtray before entering the home. Children should never be left unsupervised with lighters and matches within their reach. 

Keep all of this in mind as you perform your daily household duties. Performing these small preventative measures will benefit the safety of your entire household in the long run. SERVPRO is always here for your fire damage needs should accidents arise.