The Definitive Guide to Home Fire Prevention
Fire prevention is simpler than it seems.
Follow these easy steps to prevent fire damage in your home or property.
Fire Prevention Starts with Cooking Safety
Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries. In 2021, fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated 170,000 home cooking fires.
These fires caused an estimated 135 deaths, 3,000 injuries and over $494 million in property loss.
Prevent a kitchen fire:
- Stand by your pan. If you leave the kitchen, turn your burner off.
- Fires start when the heat is too high. If you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
- Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby, and use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. Do not use water.
Fire Prevention Starts with Heating Safety
Although trending downward since the early 1980s, heating fires remained the second leading cause of home fires in 2021. An estimated 32,200 home heating fires were reported to fire departments within the United States.
These fires caused an estimated 190 deaths, 625 injuries and $442 million in property loss.
Turn space heaters off and blow out candles when leaving the room or going to bed.
Fire Prevention Starts with Electrical Safety
In 2021, an estimated 24,200 residential building electrical fires were reported to United States fire departments. These fires caused an estimated 295 deaths, 900 injuries and over $1.2 billion in property loss.
Always apply major appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord with a major appliance.
Failure to clean (31%) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in homes from 2018-2020.
Do not overload outlets or power strips, and replace old, worn, or damaged cords right away.
Fire Prevention Starts with Alarms and Sprinklers
More than 150 people in the U.S. die every year from accidental not fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide or CO is a colorless and odorless gas, and breathing it in at high levels can be fatal.
Install CO alarms and fire sprinklers in a central location outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home.
Fire Prevention Starts with Smoking Safety
Prevent a smoking fire:
- Never smoke in bed. Mattresses and bedding can catch on fire easily.
- Put your cigarette out in an ashtray or bucket with sand, and use ashtrays with a wide base so they won’t tip over and start a fire.
- Put cigarettes out all the way. Put water on the ashes and butts to make sure they are really out before you put them in the trash.
The main cause of e-cigarette fires and explosions is the failure of lithium-ion batteries. Store loose batteries for e-cigarettes in a case.
Don’t charge your e-cigarette overnight, and don’t charge it next to a phone or tablet.
Has a Fire Already Occurred?
Choose the right restoration company for you.
For expert fire damage solutions, call Faragon Restoration at 415-648-6418, and we will remediate and repair the fire damage in your home or property.
