Common fire hazards in your home and how to prevent them

Fires in your home can start very easily, and it is important for a homeowner to know how to avoid them.

Here are the most common fire hazards in households and what you can do to avoid them.

Common fire hazards and how to avoid them

Laptops

Laptops are known for overheating. As technology progresses, most laptops have automatic shut-down features that stop them from overheating. But, just in case, we would recommend not charging laptops on blankets, pillows, comforters, or any sort of bedding that can be caught on fire. A blanket can ignite your home within minutes.

Dryer Lint

Make sure you are cleaning the lint trap in your dryer or else you could be a victim of a dryer fire. Lint gets built up near motors and heating devices in driers. There are thousands of house fires per year that start just from dryer lint.

Barbeques or Grills

Grilled food is a very common American meal, but it can also be very dangerous to make. Grills can catch fire to your house when kept close enough and are known for catching patio furniture, awnings, and backyards on fire as well. Keep your grill a safe distance from anything of value. Barbequing food can spark unpredictable flames and in turn, cause lots of property damage. When done grilling, be sure that the grill is turned off.

Dust Bunnies

Yes! Even dust is a fire hazard. It ignites quickly when near a spark. Make sure areas by electrical sockets are especially clean, as that is where most dust fires can start.

Hair Styling Tools

A majority of households own some sort of hair straightener, curler, or hairdryer. If you do own one, you know how easy it is to forget to unplug them. A straightener heats up to 400 degrees on average. Make sure you don’t leave them running and place them on a heating mat to cool down after use.

Candles

One of the more obvious fire-starters in homes is candles. They smell great but can be super dangerous when left unattended. People make mistakes and the moment you leave a candle next to a cardboard box, your house could be in flames. Avoid candle fires by blowing out and covering your candle with the lid after use. Also keep candles away from flammable materials while they are lit.

Smoking

Not only is smoking bad for you, but it is also bad for your home. Butts of cigarettes can stay lit for hours even if you thought they were put out. Keep cigarettes away from bedrooms specifically, as bedrooms tend to cause the most smoking-related fires. Cigarettes may get thrown into sheets accidentally, causing a fire if it is still lit. To avoid smoking fires entirely, don’t smoke inside of your house.

Fireplaces

If used incorrectly, fireplaces can start deadly fires. Make sure your chimney is clean before lighting the fireplace and do not leave it lit when the house is unattended.

More Hazards

The hazards that were listed are just the beginning. Here are a few more just to keep in mind:

• Cooking
• Frying with oil
• Fairy lights
• Bad wiring
• Christmas trees
• Flammable liquids
• Stashes of paper
• Cluttered kitchens
• Crumbs in toaster

Avoiding Fires in your Home

The biggest thing you can do to avoid a house fire is to keep your home clean! Dust, declutter, and don’t store things like paper or flammable liquids in spots with fire hazards.

Be careful when cooking and make sure you own a fire extinguisher. Even the most experienced chefs can make mistakes.

Keep an eye on young children. Stove knobs are easy to turn. Electrical sockets are low to the ground, making them easy to mess with. And teach your children about fire safety in general.

Test smoke alarms often. If there is a fire, it is important you get out of the house as quickly as possible. Make sure batteries are changed when needed.

Property Damage Lawyers at Landau Law Group

If you or someone you know has recently suffered a house fire, have them contact Landau Law Group today for a free consultation regarding the case. 

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