3 minute read

Many homeowners like to believe that the fire risk in their home is pretty much zero. However, modern homes still rely on electricity, various fuel sources, and incorporate everyday activities that can lead to fires even with all regulations. What’s more, you could experience a force of nature like a wildfire or lightning.

So below, we look at some of the most common fire risks based on the USFA and NFPA statistics, so you know what is most likely to lead to a fire and how you can deal with it. 

Fire-based cooking

Fire-based cooking is the number one cause of house fires. It usually occurs because people forget that they’ve left pots and pans on the hob and that requires them to attend to them, especially when grilling or frying.

The best way to deal with this is to switch to electric hobs that don’t use gas, and you can also use induction cooking where the hob itself doesn’t heat up at all because it uses magnets. You can also ensure your kitchen has a fire blanket, fire extinguisher, emergency shut-offs when it detects a fire, and even a sprinkler system. You can also avoid cooking with grease and oil as these tend to be the most flammable kitchen components. 

Chimneys

If you have a chimney in your home, then that’s also a fire risk. Over time, soot and ash can build up in fine particle layers in the chimney stack itself, creating a material called creosote which can then catch fire independently of the fire in your hearth.

The best way to get rid of this is to hire chimney cleaners. These professionals have special tools that can remove the creosote from your chimney stack, reducing the risks significantly. They can also eliminate any debris that might have fallen into the chimney. 

Heating equipment

While slightly rarer, heating equipment like furnaces, fireplaces, space heaters, and wood stoves is another leading cause of fire in residential properties. These can ignite nearby items. The best policy for these is to keep everything flammable at least 3 feet away from the source of fire or heat. If you can switch to a water-based heating system for your property, that’s even better. Don’t use ovens or gas stoves to heat your home, even if you think that these might be cheaper solutions. 

Smoking materials

If you’re a smoker, then unfortunately your home is at a high risk of fire. That’s because smoking materials, when left unattended, can cause other surfaces to burn. It’s also one of the reasons why almost every couch you buy now has to contain fire retardant ingredients to stop it from setting alight because of smokers.

The best way to avoid this issue is to stop smoking, however if you can’t do that then you’ll want to look for battery-operated alternatives instead, like vaping. You should also never leave open candles unattended and blow them out whenever you even leave the room. 

So there you have it, that’s why fire risks in your property are not zero percent.