Common causes of house fires

House fires can have devastating consequences, causing injury, loss of property, and even death. Here are some of the most common causes you have to consider in order to be prepared:

Cooking

It is the leading cause of house fires, especially when food is left unattended on the stove or in the oven. Grease fires, which can quickly spread to other parts of the kitchen, are also a common cause of cooking-related fires.

Heating

Heating equipment, such as space heaters and furnaces, can cause fires if they are not used properly. This can include placing flammable materials too close to the heating source, using damaged or faulty equipment, or failing to clean the equipment regularly.

Electrical

can be caused by faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, damaged electrical cords or plugs, or using the wrong type of electrical equipment. Electrical fires can occur in any part of the house, including bedrooms, living areas, and basements.

Smoking

Smoking-related fires are often caused by carelessly discarded cigarettes or cigars. They can occur in any part of the house but are most common in bedrooms and living areas.

Candles

They are a common cause of house fires, especially when they are left unattended or placed too close to flammable materials. They can cause fires in any part of the house, including bedrooms, living areas, and bathrooms.

Children

They can accidentally start fires by playing with matches, lighters, or other flammable materials. They may also cause fires by accidentally knocking over candles, space heaters, or other heating equipment.

Flammable liquids

As gasoline, kerosene, and propane, can cause fires if they are stored improperly or used improperly. This can include storing them too close to a heat source or using them in a confined space.

Christmas tree

Many households have a Christmas tree tradition, but there are certain concerns involved. By the end of the holidays, evergreen trees can provide a significant fire hazard because of their propensity to dry out over time. The tree may catch fire instantly from a hot light or spark, and these fires spread exceedingly quickly, quickly engulfing a room.

Where do house fires most commonly start?

House fires can start in any room of the house, but there are some areas that are more prone to fires than others. The most common causes of house fires in areas where start include:

Kitchen

The kitchen is the most common area where house fires start, usually due to cooking accidents, such as leaving food unattended on the stove, forgetting to turn off the oven, or grease fires. It is the most common type of home fire, causing about 49% of all residential fires.

Bedroom

Fires can start in bedrooms due to smoking materials or electrical issues, such as overheated electrical cords or overloaded electrical outlets.

Living room

The living room is another area where fires can start due to electrical issues, such as overloaded electrical outlets or faulty wiring. Fires can also start due to heating equipment, such as space heaters, or candles left unattended.

Laundry room

Dryer fires can start in the laundry room due to lint buildup in the dryer or dryer vent. This can cause the dryer to overheat and catch fire.

Basement

Electrical issues, heating equipment, and flammable materials stored in the basement can all contribute to fires starting in this area.

Garage

Fires can start in the garage due to flammable materials, such as gasoline or paint thinner, being stored improperly. Electrical issues, such as overloading outlets, can also contribute to fires in the garage.

What are the 3 main causes of fire?

The three main causes of fire are often referred to as the “fire triangle,” which consists of three elements that must be present for a fire to start and continue to burn:

Heat

It is the first element of the fire triangle. It can come from sources such as matches, lighters, electrical equipment, and heating systems.

Fuel

It is the second element of the fire triangle. It can be anything that can burn, such as wood, paper, fabric, and flammable liquids.

Oxygen

It is the third element of the fire triangle. It is present in the air and is necessary for combustion to occur.

What is the biggest cause of accidental fires in homes?

The biggest cause of accidental fires in the home is cooking. Cooking with grease or oil, and leaving cooking equipment such as stovetops and ovens on for long periods of time can all increase the risk of a fire.

Cooking fires are also more likely to occur during holidays and special occasions when people are cooking larger meals and using unfamiliar equipment. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking equipment is involved in almost half of all home fires, and cooking fires are the leading cause of home fire injuries.

It’s important to practice safe cooking habits. Such as staying in the kitchen while cooking, keeping flammable materials away from the stove, and keeping a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a cooking fire.

Having working smoke detectors throughout your home and having a fire escape plan in place can help you and your family stay safe with the common causes of house fires.

Read more: Everything you need to know about furnaces

Written by Vanessa Gallanti. July 30, 2023

Enthusiast about planning, project management, construction materials and technology, and construction. A civil engineer from Los Andes University and a content writer for Kukun.