Most Common Fire Hazards Around Your House
It's not the heat outside or inside your home that poses the greatest fire risk—it's how you use and maintain your home, especially when you don't realize you're using it or maintaining it unsafely. When there is a fire, there is water to put the fire out, which causes an immediate need for water damage restoration. Tidal Wave Response should be contacted immediately to assist with water damage removal before mold develops, causing a hazardous situation for your family’s health.
Home fires are one of the leading causes of household injuries and deaths in the United States. Although we know how to prevent home fires, every year, thousands of fires still begin in homes or apartments due to unsupervised cooking, heating equipment, holiday decorations, and dried natural materials. If you're worried about fire hazards in your home, you have good reason to be. A fire can happen quickly and easily, causing extensive damage to your property and putting your family at risk.
Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of your home and is also one of the places that most likely experience fire hazards. For starters, there are cooking appliances and other items in the kitchen that can cause fires. If you have a gas stove or oven, keep them turned off when not in use. Also, make sure cords are out of reach of children and pets.
Heating
When heating your home, ensure adequate ventilation by opening windows and doors during winter. This will prevent smoke from building up inside your home and causing a fire hazard. If you have wood-burning fireplaces or stoves in your home, ensure they are kept clean and in good working order.
Holiday Decorations
If you have holiday decorations in place during winter, take extra precautions, so they don't cause fires. When placing lights outdoors around your house, be sure to use weatherproof lighting strings with bulbs rather than extension cords that can become frayed from heat and cold temperatures.
E-Bikes/Electric Scooters
These are great for getting around town, but they can also be dangerous if they are not used properly. The battery packs on these devices can overheat and start smoking if they aren't charged properly or stored properly after use. If one of these batteries catches fire, it can cause a lot of damage to your home and property.
Dryer
Most dryer fires occur when clothing gets stuck in the lint filter or around the drum. To avoid this issue, inspect your dryer after every load of laundry to ensure there is no lint buildup anywhere in the machine. Also, clean out any lint that collects in the crevices of your dryer regularly. If you notice moldy smells coming from your dryer, immediately unplug it and call for service. You should never use flammable liquid cleaners near the dryer because they can also cause fires.
Space Heaters
Space heaters are a common cause of fires in homes across America each year. While space heaters can help keep you warm during winter, they should never be used near flammable materials like paper or curtains because they can easily ignite them if left unattended for too long. If you use a space heater, make sure that it automatically has a tip-over switch to shut off if it falls over onto something flammable.
Tidal Wave Response
Please remember that fire safety begins with you and how you use things in your home. Use flame sources safely and responsibly, and regularly check all electrical devices for wear and tear. We hope you've learned something from this guide and can make some changes around your home to be safer. However, suppose you suffer from a catastrophic fire and water event. In that case, water damage removal should occur quickly and properly to prevent mold development, which can start to grow in as little as 24 hours.
