• Home
  • Get A Quote
  • Customer Service
  • Refer a Friend
  • About Us
  • Location Map
  • Employee Directory
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
The Insurance Centers
CALL US TODAY
(855) 467-2877

English Espanol

  • Main Menu
    • Home Page
    • Make a Payment
    • File a Claim
    • Refer a Friend
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Our Locations
    • Employee Directory
    • Blog
    • Insurance Glossary
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
  • Claims
    • Claim Forms
    • Auto Claim Form
    • Commercial Auto Claim Form
    • Commercial Property Claim Form
    • Property Loss Claim Form
    • Workers Compensation Claim Form
  • Automobile
    • Automobile Insurance Home
    • Instant Auto Insurance Quote
    • Add Vehicle to Existing Auto Policy
    • Remove Vehicle from Existing Auto Policy
    • Add Driver to Existing Auto Policy
    • Remove Driver from Existing Auto Policy
    • Auto Claim Form
  • Homeowners
    • Homeowners Insurance Home
    • Homeowners Insurance Quote
    • Property Loss Claim Form
    • Homeowner Flood Quote Form
  • Transportatation
    • Add Vehicle to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
    • Add Driver to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
    • Remove Driver from Existing Commercial Auto Policy
    • Commercial Auto Claim Form
    • Commercial Auto Insurance Quote
    • Remove Vehicle from Existing Commercial Auto Policy
  • Business
    • Business Owners (BOP) Quote Form
    • Business & Commercial Insurance Home
    • Request General Liability Certificate of Insurance
    • Liquor Liability Quote Form
    • Flood Quote Form
  • Bonds
    • Bond Flyer
    • Bond Intake Questionnaire
    • Probate Fillable Application
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Press Releases
    • Job Postings
Business Insurance COMMERCIAL

Discover the perfect insurance options to meet your specific and unique needs.

Read More
Auto Insurance AUTO

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident.

Read More
Homeowners Insurance HOME

A standard policy insures the home itself and the things you keep in it.

Read More
Transportation Insurance TRUCKING (Transportation)

Browse a variety of commercial vehicle insurance options to find the right one for you.

Read More
Home > Blog > The Five Most Common Causes Of Fire At Home
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

The Five Most Common Causes Of Fire At Home

image of house on fireThe thought of all your belongings literally going up in flames is a frightening one indeed, but every year, that's exactly what happens to hundreds of thousands of Americans. Since 2009, no fewer than 362,500 people have seen their homes destroyed by fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Whenever a residential fire occurs, there's always an investigation in the aftermath, led by officials, to determine how the blaze occurred, why it happened and what can be learned from it to reduce the risk of it happening again. Some fire starters are more common than others, but no matter how they present themselves, each has a story to tell that fire officials are charged with determining.

The following are the five most frequent causes of home fires in the United States today, as detailed by the NFPA, starting with the most common of them all: Cooking.

1. Cooking
The most trafficked room in the typical house is the kitchen, which also happens to be the place where fire danger is most likely to occur. According to the NFPA's estimates, two out of every five home fires take place in the kitchen. Of these, approximately 66% are caused by cooking materials, usually the oven or burners on stove tops.

While the kitchen may typically be the room of the house that sees the most people, it's when they're not there that accidents happen. Fire officials recommend always have someone in the vicinity when foods is cooking, be it in the oven or the range.

When the temperatures turn cold, it's time to dial up the heat in the house. But these warming features can occasionally lead to accidents, usually due to improper maintenance. Failure to clean creosote buildup in chimneys is the leading cause of heating equipment fires, according to the NFPA's figures. 

Creosote is a black, tar-like substance that attaches to the interior of chimneys over time, especially when homeowners use their fireplaces to heat their home. Homeowners are strongly advised to have their chimneys serviced on an annual basis, where professionals will do what it takes to clean creosote buildup, which is highly flammable. It's also important to keep items that can catch fire away from heaters, be them portable or fixed.

2. Heating

When the temperatures turn cold, it's time to dial up the heat in the house. But these warming features can occasionally lead to accidents, usually due to improper maintenance. Failure to clean creosote buildup in chimneys is the leading cause of heating equipment fires, according to the NFPA's figures. 

Creosote is a black, tar-like substance that attaches to the interior of chimneys over time, especially when homeowners use their fireplaces to heat their home. Homeowners are strongly advised to have their chimneys serviced on an annual basis, where professionals will do what it takes to clean creosote buildup, which is highly flammable. It's also important to keep items that can catch fire away from heaters, be them portable or fixed.

3. Cigarette smoking
Kicking the habit once and for all not only dramatically improves the average smoker's life, but it also reduces the risk of residential fires, as smoking materials are the third-most common cause of blazes that happen at home. Between 2007 and 2011, around 17,900 home structure fires in the U.S. per year stemmed from cigarettes, resulting in an estimated $509 million in homeowners insurance losses and property damage.

Many Americans today have "no smoking zones" in their house, to shield other members from the health effects of secondhand smoke, but keeping the interior smoke-free can also yield safety benefits. At the very least, fire officials suggest making certain rooms of the house off limits to smoking, like the bedroom or other areas where smoldering ashes can cause furnishings to catch fire.

4. Electrical
Modern-day conveniences - like electricity - have their safety hazards, typically due to malfunctioning equipment. Nearly 50% of all electrical fires involve lighting equipment, according to NFPA's figures, resulting in an average of 47,800 home fires per year. When using appliances, make sure that outlets appear normal and avoid plugging in cords that are damaged, whether they're frayed, loose or bare. Also, avoid using more than one receptacle for electricity usage to prevent overloading the circuit.

5. Candles
There's nothing like the "welcome home" smell of a scented candle, so inviting that it can often leave homeowners to forget that one is on. Nationwide, 29 home candle fires are reported to fire officials per day, the NFPA has reported based on its annual estimates. From 2007 to 2011, candles caused 35% of home fires and 6% of direct property damage. Among burn-related injuries, 7% were due to candles.

Homeowners should never leave a room unattended where a candle is burning, especially if they have young children or pets at home, whose rough housing can lead to an accident. Candles should also be placed in sturdy holders to reduce the risk of them tipping over.
For information and resources on fire safety, be sure to visit the National Fire Protection Association's website, as well as the U.S. Fire Administration's homepage.

Article courtesy of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. 
Posted 4:00 PM

Tags: insurance, homeowners, home insurance, fire safety,
Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015

  • tips(20)
  • safety(18)
  • insurance(15)
  • weather(8)
  • homeowners(7)
  • auto(7)
  • family(6)
  • protection(5)
  • personal insurance(5)
  • emergency(4)
  • safety tips(4)
  • cyber security(4)
  • hurricane(4)
  • auto insurance(4)
  • coverage(4)
  • home(3)
  • business(3)
  • commercial insurance(3)
  • driving(3)
  • health insurance(3)
  • preparedness(3)
  • home insurance(3)
  • business insurance(3)
  • data(2)
  • college(2)
  • winter(2)
  • trucking(2)
  • holiday(2)
  • flood(2)
  • fire safety(2)
  • cyber attacks(1)
  • claims(1)
  • retirement(1)
  • plan ahead(1)
  • jewelry(1)
  • emergency planning(1)
  • independent insurance agent(1)
  • hurricane season(1)
  • roofing(1)
  • cyber monday(1)
  • commercial trucking(1)
  • security(1)
  • loss(1)
  • money(1)
  • cyber(1)
  • personal finance(1)
  • savings(1)
  • summer(1)
  • bayonne bridge(1)
  • commercial(1)

View Mobile Version
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Google+
Blog
AIG
CIGNA
Chubb
Great American
Berkshsire Hathaway Guard
Hanover
The Hartford
Philadelphia Insurance Company
Twitter Logo
Tweets by @InsuranceCtrs

Resources

Home About Us Make a Payment Get a Quote Customer Service Newsletter Contact Us

Contact Us

Map icon
  • Main Office
  • 20 Commerce Drive
  • Suite 303
  • Cranford, NJ 07016
  • _
  • O: 855-467-2877
  • F: 732-574-8001
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
Powered by Insurance Website Builder