Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires, but were you aware of these other culprits?
Residential fires happen more often than you think but are entirely avoidable. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that more than one-third of reported fires happened in residences as of October 2019. Many reports show that cooking is the leading cause of residential fires. However, there are other culprits that some people overlook, that could be a fire hazard. If you want to become safer in your home and avoid a fire emergency, then this is a must-read.
Neglected Smoke Detectors
Unfortunately, each year a death occurs because a fire alarm failed to sound. Usually, this happens when batteries are dead, or someone removed the battery to stop the fire alarm from sounding off when there was no fire emergency. A smoke detector also doesn’t work when it’s past its lifespan. It’s also a danger when you place smoke detectors where people will barely be able to hear them.
Unclean Stoves
It’s evident that walking away from the stove, especially when the fire is extremely high, is dangerous. However, did you know that cooking on a stove with grease buildup is also a fire hazard? If you notice that there is a pileup of grease or flammable grime, then you should indeed clean your stove immediately. If a small kitchen fire were to occur, then a greasy stove could cause things to get out of hand quickly.
Loose Electrical Outlets
Most people have loose electricals outlets in their house and don’t realize it. If they do, they often ignore them. It’s evident that plugging too many cords into an extension cord isn’t the best idea. However, the constant movement of loose outlets can loosen connected wires and create a dangerous discharge, which could result in a fire.
Dust
Dusting is a chore that many homeowners aren’t fond of, but it could save their lives. Too many dust bunnies in a home can cause a spark to ignite and spread a fire quickly. Too much near a space heater or electrical sockets is a major fire hazard. Giving your home a thorough deep cleaning is beneficial on so many levels.
Tips for Preventing Residential Fires
We install automatic fire sprinklers. When the heat from a fire reaches a specific degree, in a split second, fire sprinklers automatically turn on so that you don’t have to think about putting out the fire. If you don’t have one in your home, give us a call today. We also suggest testing your smoke detector, not overloading outlets, and staying attentive, alert, and present when you’re using fire or heat.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience in designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480 or contact us online. For more fire safety tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.