Common Causes of House Fires and How to Prevent Them

House fires can have serious consequences. By knowing some of the most common causes of house fires you can make sure you’re taking steps to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out in your home.

What can cause house fires?

Overloading Plug Sockets

With so much electrical equipment in our homes, many people often rely on extension cables to allow all of their electricals to be plugged in at the same time. Unfortunately, despite their convenience, they can be very dangerous to use if overloaded. Overloading sockets can lead to overheating and cause a fire.

Don’t run the risk of using overloaded plug sockets. If you need more plug sockets installing in your home contact a local electrician for help.

Candles

The small flame a candle produces may look relatively harmless but it’s very easy for a candle to cause severe destruction very quickly. From curtains close-by catching light to candles melting through plastic, to children and pets knocking them over, there are plenty of ways a candle can cause a major house fire. Never leave a lit candle unattended.

Hair Straighteners

If you’re rushing out to work it can be easy to forget to turn your hair straighteners off. If you use hair straighteners make sure that you always turn them off after you’re finished using them. You should also make sure that you put the hair straighteners on a heat proof surface or mat after use to cool down.

Counterfeit Mobile Phone Chargers

Avoid counterfeit mobile phone chargers! There are many counterfeit mobile chargers out there which do not meet UK safety regulations. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a fake charger and the real thing, so it’s important to be vigilant when buying a new charger. Rather than buying cheap, spend a little more and buy from a reputable source.

Chimney Fires

One of the ways you can reduce the risk of a chimney fire is by sweeping your chimney on a regular basis. It’s also very important to avoid burning unseasoned wood. If your chimney is due a sweep then find a chimney sweep in your area.

Some safety steps you can take…

Install A Fire Alarm

A fire alarm system alerts you if a fire or smoke is detected. It is important that you check your alarm on a regular basis to ensure it is still working correctly. If you haven’t already got smoke detectors and a fire alarm system or your system needs servicing or upgrading a local smoke/fire alarm services company will be able to help.

Unplug Electrical Equipment

You can help reduce the risks of a fire caused by electrical equipment by making sure electricals are turned off and unplugged when not being used and ensuring sockets aren’t overloaded.

Plan Escape Routes

Plan more than one escape route in case of an emergency. It’s important to make sure that your escape routes are clear and not blocked.

Call in A Professional

NEVER attempt to carry out work which should be carried out by a professional such as qualified electrician or gas fitter if you are not qualified. ALWAYS leave these jobs to the professionals. You can find a local electrical or local gas fitter with Tradesmenin.

 

*This certainly isn’t a full list of the reasons a fire can break out in your home or the safety steps you can take to help reduce the risk. Always make sure you are looking out for potential risks and planning steps to help protect yourself.