Your home is a fire waiting to happen. It has all the right ingredients, combustible material, oxygen, and sparks that can start a fire. Add to this a lack of attention to the fire risk and you have the potential for a fire to start at any moment.
It pays to chat to your local fire safety equipment suppliers and invest in the basic equipment, such as a smoke detector, fire blanket, and even an escape ladder. You should also create a fire escape plan, ensuring that, if the worst did happen, you would all know how to get out quickly and safely.
You will also find it beneficial to know what the most common fire hazards are at home and how to avoid them being an issue.
Candles
Candles have a naked flame and can easily set items such as curtains and soft furnishings alight. Of course, they are also very useful when the power is out or you wish to create a certain ambiance.
The problem isn’t in using candles, it is on leaving them unattended. It only takes a moment for the fire to start and a candle can be knocked over due to wind or a pet. If you have any candles then make sure they are never left unattended.
Cooking
Cooking requires heat and this can lead to a wealth of complications. In the first instance, the hot oil can burst into flames, a buildup of debris can also be flammable. In addition, you may find that the electrics in your kitchen are dangerous and causing appliances to short circuit or overheat, all of which increase the likelihood of a fire starting.
In short, you should never leave cooking unattended to prevent the risk of a fire from starting.
Electrical Problems
As mentioned, faulty electrics can cause sparks that make appliances malfunction and potentially start fires. In fact, if the electrics are faulty they can create sparks that can ignite any combustible materials near them. A fire can start in moments and you may not even realize it straight away.
That is why you should have your electrics inspected every year, to ensure they are safe.
Smoking
Although there are fewer people smoking today than in the past, there are still plenty of house fires caused by smoking. It only takes one cigarette that hasn’t been put out properly or gets dropped as you fall asleep. This will ignite the carpet, sofa, or even the curtains, causing a fire to quickly take hold and spread around your home.
It is best to smoke outside your home and make sure all cigarettes are put out properly, this will protect your home from fire.
Portable Heating Appliances
Portable heating appliances can be the best way to heat a space. But, because they are portable they are also more likely to be accidentally knocked over. This can cause a fire to start and can be significantly worse if you have left the appliance unattended. That is something you should never do.
