What Causes House Fires In Columbia
As a homeowner, one of the most menacing perils to your property and family members is the potential for a fire. The U.S. Fire Administration calculated in 2019 that American homeowners underwent approximately $1.6 billion in losses as the result of unforeseen or careless fires. The terrible truth is fires are unexpected and many times avoidable -- if you know where to look. And hopefully you are equipped with a monitored fire alarm that sends you help fast if you undergo an emergency.
What Causes House Fires In Columbia?
Fires may start in nearly any place at any time in the home. However, you can lessen the threat of a house fire if you take countermeasures around the following items:
- Stoves and Ovens: Cooking is far and away the leading cause of a house fire in Columbia. Cooking-related fires typically begin when the kitchen goes unattended while cooking food. Water thrown on a grease fire can quickly spread a flame that would otherwise be contained.
- Candles: Passing out in a room with a lit candle is risky, even when you use a deep candle holder. The flame can blow and catch a curtain ablaze if left on a window sill, and animals can topple candlesticks in their playing. The National Fire Protection Association projects that just over 7,600 houses were damaged because of candle-related incidents between 2014-2018.
- Electrical wires: Old electrical circuit interrupters, “tamper-resistant” electrical outlets, aging or incorrectly set up lighting, and cut lamp cords is a big risk. Be careful not to overload your outlets or plug an item in with exposed wires. If for any reason you hear crackling or smell smoke from the outlet, power down the breaker off ahead of your investigation.
- Space Heaters: Skip over coiled space heaters because debris, like pet fur, paper or plastic scraps, or covers can accidentally make contact and alight. However, you need to make sure to monitor fan and ceramic space heaters for the entire duration of operation.
- Cigarettes: In 2014 alone, U.S. fire departments fought blazes in more than 17,000 residence fires started by smoking paraphernalia. If you have tobacco products that smokes indoors, be certain they never take a nap with a cigarette or smoke in bed. And fully extinguish your cigarette prior to placing it into a waste bin.
A Monitored Smoke Detector Can Help When You Have A Fire
If a fire should start, you will need to have an early detection system to inform your loved ones as soon as possible. An ordinary smoke alarm might be sufficient but can only alert you if smoke is abundant. A state-of-the-art fire alarm -- a security device that's connected to your home security system -- can detect both smoke and rising temperatures and can do more to ensure everyone’s safety.
A monitored fire alarm has many means it can alert you of rising heat. Your alarms can alert you with an incredibly loud alarm and a message to your smartphone. That’s when your 24/7 monitoring experts will contact the fire department. And if you're ever somewhere in which you can't speed you your house when a fire breaks out, you can have peace of mind that your monitoring agent will maintain communication between you and the fire department.
Utilize Monitored Fire Alarms From Secure24 Alarm Systems
The chance of house fires in Columbia should never be written off, but you can rest easier if you have a monitored fire alarm on the premises. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, and we’ll help you get all the fire detectors you need with a cutting-edge home security system. Call (803) 380-6011 or submit the form below to begin.