Given a recent global health pandemic, many of us are the last to think about other security issues, such as: B. Fires on our properties. Unfortunately, regardless of the time of year or whatever else happens, the risk of fire in your home is real.
Therefore, it is advisable to inform yourself and your family about the risks and steps to stay safer.
Causes behind house fires
There are many common causes of home fires. In particular, many fires start due to candles. People tend to light them and then forget about them, or they leave the house or fall asleep while still burning. The open flame of candles can cause fires if they are not monitored, especially if they fall over or if a breeze carries a spark. Smokers also tend to stand behind many house fires. If people forget or don't properly extinguish their cigarette butts or pipes, a catastrophe can occur. Butts smolder longer than many smokers believe, and the embers can set fire to flammable objects. The same problem occurs when people fall asleep and drop illuminated products.
Another common cause of flames is faulty wiring. This mostly occurs in old houses, but even modern houses can have problems if the wiring has not been installed properly at all or if animals chew on cables etc. House fires often start directly at sockets, on device lines or similar devices for internal wiring. Sparks can fly if cables tear, fray, come loose, or flow too hard. When sparks hit flammable objects, an entire house can quickly go up in smoke.
Other things that tend to trigger house fires are:
- Children playing with matches unsupervised
- Heaters that come into contact with flammable goods
- Broken electric blankets
- Log fires get out of control
- Accidents in the kitchen while cooking (e.g. by spraying hot oil on flammable materials)
Tips for more security
To protect yourself, your family or roommates, your pets, and your property and possessions, there are several steps you can take to reduce the risk of a house fire. At no time leave candles unattended and blow out their flames when you get tired, move to another room or leave the house. Supervise your children with candles and only place these objects on flat, stable surfaces so that they are less likely to fall over. If there are smokers in your household, make sure that cigarettes and pipes are properly dispensed in deep ashtrays that correctly contain the stubs. Always check if embers have fallen before leaving the room. In addition, teach your children about fire protection at a young age and lock matches and lighters away from them so that they do not have access to dangerous objects.
If you have an "old lady" type property, have an electrician or other professional check the wiring status throughout your home to make sure it is safe. Let specialists replace everything that could pose a risk. Always use qualified, licensed craftsmen for these important tasks. B. the technicians listed on websites like Candu. If you have a new home, but have noticed burning smells, flying sparks, short circuits or visible signs of frayed or otherwise damaged cables or cables, contact a contract partner immediately. The same applies to electric blankets and plug heaters. To keep wood fires at bay, have the chimneys serviced annually. Again, don't leave them unattended unless you know they are included. Keep electrical heaters away from flammable objects in your home. While cooking, roll up your sleeves so that the clothes do not catch fire and do not leave the room if you have things on the stove.
You can also reduce the risk of fire destroying your home and injuring yourself or loved ones by installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in multiple locations. This will give you a warning if there are signs of a fire. Buy fire extinguishers that you also have on your property so you can extinguish fires immediately. Nobody likes to think about having to deal with a house fire and all the effects it has. However, they are a reality and occur in thousands of cases across the country each year. Educate yourself about the risks and follow the steps above to minimize the likelihood that you'll ever cope with this kind of scary situation.
