Many of us become complacent when it comes to fire prevention in our homes. Mihalko’s Fire & Water Restoration team has witnessed the damage and devastation a fire can do to homes. We take fire prevention very seriously in the Mihalko family and we want to provide your family safety measures to help prevent fires in your home. Knowing the statistics is where it starts.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, during 2007-2011, roughly one of every 320 households had a reported home fire per year.
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires started in the kitchen. Ranges accounted for almost three of every five (57%) of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%. Unattended cooking and ignition of food or other materials are two of the leading causes of home cooking fires.
Heating equipment is the second leading cause for a house fire, primarily due to failure to clean correctly and frequently. Portable or fixed space heaters, including wood stoves account for 32% of home heating fires. Most fires occurred from heating equipment being too close to items that can burn including furniture, clothing, mattresses or bedding.
Smoking is the third reason for home fires. Sleep was a factor in roughly one-third of those home deaths.
Electrical failure or malfunctions caused an average of 47,800 home fires per year.
Candles caused 3% of home fires. On average, there are 29 home candle fires reported per day.
Smoking alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Smoking alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home. Test your smoke alarms every month and replace all alarms in your home every 10 years. A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives; but portable extinguishers have limitations. Because fire grows and spreads so rapidly, the number one priority for residents is to get out safely.
Now that you know some of the facts and safety tips about fire, it’s time to have a discussion with your family on just how easy it is for a fire to start and spread. Mihalko’s helps people every day recover after a devastating fire. Protect your home so that you do not have to deal with such a disaster. For more advice on making sure your home is in tiptop prevention shape, call 1-866-MIHALKO.
