Common sources of fire in a home

8/2/2019 (Permalink)

Approximately 1 of every 338 households per year has a reported home fire. Almost 50% of structure fires were caused by cooking equipment (pots, pans, kettles, etc.) and human error was the leading contributing factor in those fires. Never leave a stove unattended while cooking!

Another common cause of fires was due to the poor upkeep of heating equipment, such as chimneys, central heating units, portable space heaters, and fireplaces.  

Older homes have a higher risk of electrical fires due to outdated wiring. If your home was built more than 20 years ago, it may not have the capacity to handle the amount of electricity, electronics and appliances we use now a days.

Smoking materials like cigarettes, cigars, etc. caused more than 17,00 fires in 2014 and are the leading cause of fire deaths. If you decide to smoke, do it outside.

Other things that can cause a fire are faulty clothes dryers and washers, candles, fan or air conditioners, and playing with a heat source.

If you need help after a fire, call SERVPRO of Decatur. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.