Tips to Help Avoid Dangerous Home Fires

Wildfires often make for dramatic news coverage — almost 79,000 were reported nationally in 2009 — but home structure fires affect thousands of U.S. homeowners every year, despite the fact that they are often preventable.¹ In 2009 alone there were more than 350,000 residential fires that caused more than 12,000 injuries, 2,400 deaths, and upwards of $7.2 billion in damage.²

National Fire Prevention Week, which commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871, falls on October 9–15 in 2011. It serves as an important reminder to identify and address potential fire risks that may be present in your home and to discuss fire safety with your family.

Here’s a look at the most common causes of home fires, with some safety tips to help protect your family if a fire is ever ignited.

Hazards and Hotspots

You may be able to avoid physical danger and loss of property resulting from fire by learning about the behaviors and conditions that frequently cause home fires and how to help prevent them.

Smoking: Smoking is the number one cause of fatal residential fires.³ Don’t leave cigarettes unattended. Make sure they are always put out completely and never smoke in bed.

Children: Kids who play with matches or lighters are responsible for more than 35,000 fires each year.⁴ Teach your children that fire is a tool and not a toy, and watch for burnt matches or other signs of experimentation with flames.

Cooking: The most common cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking.⁵ Never wear loose clothing while cooking or set flammable materials (such as potholders or paper goods) near the stovetop.

Electrical: Electrical fires may be the result of system failures, incorrectly installed wiring, or overloaded circuits. It’s a good idea to conduct regular checkups of your electrical appliances, outlets, and wiring, and to replace frayed wires and appliances that have damaged electric cords.

Heating: Fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters are blamed for thousands of home fires each winter.⁶ Extinguish fires before going to bed or leaving the house, and have a professional clean and inspect chimneys every year. Place space heaters away from flammable items and on a level surface where they are less likely to tip over.

Focus on Fire Safety

It takes only a few minutes for a small flame to grow into a major fire. Smoke alarms can alert residents quickly and help save lives, and residential sprinkler systems may actually extinguish flames, giving occupants more time to escape.

A correctly installed smoke alarm reduces a person’s chances of dying in a home fire by 50% — add fire sprinklers and the risk is cut by 82% when compared to a home without either.⁷ Test your smoke alarms every month and replace the batteries annually to help ensure they will work if needed.

It’s also important to form an escape plan and review it with everyone who lives in the home. Make sure everyone knows to leave the home immediately if there is a fire, and never to go back inside a burning building. Identify two ways out of every room. A collapsible ladder (approved by Underwriters Laboratory) could prove helpful if you have bedrooms on a second story. Designate a meeting place located a safe distance from the house.

Fortunately, standard homeowners insurance typically pays to repair damage caused by fires, up to the policy limits. However, it’s important to review coverage levels on a regular basis. Your home and belongings should be insured for their full replacement cost. If you are underinsured, it could prove difficult or impossible to rebuild a structure or replace your lost belongings at current market prices.

1) Wildfire Today, February 10, 2011
2–7) U.S. Fire Administration, 2010–2011

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2011 Emerald Connect, Inc.