The Top Fire-Related Hazards That Can Threaten Your Home

Fires can be an unpredictable and dangerous threat. It only takes one unattended candle to create a natural disaster that destroys everything you own. In the United States, the average number of home fire deaths is over 3,000 annually. On average, 19 people die as a result of fires in the home every day. But even if you’re not at risk for dying from a fire, you could lose your property and potentially your life savings. However, here are some easy ways to lower your risk of starting a fire in your home.

Here are some fire-related hazards that can threaten your home and how you can avoid them:

Learn About The Top Fire-Related Hazards

One of the most serious fire-related risks to your home is smoking around an open flame. When you smoke in this situation, the lit cigarette can cause a fire because it can ignite a nearby flammable object, such as a curtain or a rug. But there are ways to avoid this risk. For example, you could have a designated area in your home to smoke where you’re far away from anything else that’s flammable. You could also stop smoking or switch to e-cigarettes so you don’t have to worry about lighting up around an open flame.

Another one of the top fire-related hazards is kitchen fires. If there is any grease on your stovetop and it catches fire, it will spread quickly and destroy everything in its path. To avoid this risk, make sure that you wipe down your stovetop before cooking and never leave food unattended on the stovetop even if it’s turned off.

It is common for a home’s water heater to be set above 120°F (48.8°C). This can cause a scald burn to a child in seconds. Scalding hot tap water causes thousands of injuries and more than 30 deaths a year. A lot of victims are young kids.

Solution: Set your hot water heater to no higher than 120° F (48.8°C), and check the temperature of your tap water to be sure it’s safe.

Know The Warning Signs

One of the most important things you can do to avoid a fire is to know the warning signs. You may have a fire hazard, such as an electrical wire that’s been exposed or a moldy piece of carpeting, and not even realize it. When there’s a sign of danger, eliminate the threat by taking immediate action.

Keep Your Home Safe From Fire

It’s not always easy to keep your home safe from fire. But there are little things you can do to lower the risk of starting a fire. For instance, installing smoke detectors can help alert you if your house is on fire before it becomes too late. If you have candles around your house, make sure they’re in sturdy containers and out of reach from children and pets. And when cooking, never leave the kitchen without turning off the stove.

Small things like these can go a long way in keeping yourself and your family safe from fires in the home.