Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO of Rapid City are here for you if your home is affected by fire.

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

Do You Know What Causes House Fires? | SERVPRO® of Rapid City

Could you imagine pulling up to your home and seeing it surrounded by flames? It’s inconceivable. incomprehensible.

We all would go to great lengths to help prevent this from happening, but despite an increased awareness about fire safety in the last decade, more than a quarter of all reported fires still occur in the home.

Let’s review some of the top causes of house fires. By keeping these in mind, you can be aware and help reduce the risk of fire.

Cooking. Did you know that almost half of all house fires begin in the kitchen? The most common reason is unattended cooking. Make it a rule: Don’t leave the kitchen for any reason while using the stove or oven.

Heating equipment. As cooler weather enters the scene, it’s important to realize that 14% of all house fires start because of heating equipment of some sort. Portable space heaters are the main culprit. They can be placed too close to something flammable without you even realizing it.

Electrical fires. Another major cause of house fires comes from electrical malfunctions and mishaps. These are most common in older houses, which don’t have the same safety measures in place as newer ones. If you live in an older home, have the electrical system inspected regularly.

Intentional fires. Sadly, there are more than 28,000 intentional home fires started every year. By “intentionally set,” we mean fires begun purposefully with destruction in mind, as opposed to fires set for other purposes that got out of hand.

Smoking materials. Even though smoking materials are only responsible for 5% of house fires, they are the leading cause of civilian deaths. These deaths often happen because people fall asleep while smoking.

Regardless of the cause, SERVPRO is here for you if your home is affected by fire. Contact your local team today to see how we can help.