Common causes of residential fires in Joliet and how to avoid them

When you own a home, there are numerous risks to consider. Fire is chief among them, as it can occur anywhere and at any moment. The U.S. Fire Administration estimated an astounding $8.9 billion in property damage across the United States because of residential fires in 2021. In the same year, there were over 350,000 documented incidents. Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep them from taking place|. Investigate the causes and how to prevent house fires in Joliet.

What causes residential fires in Joliet?

Fires can sprout up in any location and without warning, whether caused by a discarded cigarette in a waste container or a neglected stovetop. Here are the leading causes of residential fires.

• Cooking: Flare-ups in the kitchen are the most common kinds of residential fires in Joliet and all other areas. Unattended stovetops are the chief cause, so always watch that smoking skillet when making dinner. It’s also worth nothing that drenching a grease fire with water will only make things worse.
• Heating: Portable heaters are a well-known cause of residential fires. Operating them for too long may result in internal parts degrading and catching fire. Damaged cords and situating heaters by combustible materials like blankets or window coverings can also lead to disaster. Other heating devices, such as furnaces and fireplaces, might cause fires and ought to be inspected periodically.
• Electrical: Worn out wiring, malfunctioning outlets, and overwhelmed extension cords are a few of the ways electrical issues cause fires. Don’t ever operate an appliance with a frayed cord, and ensure flammable substances like paper aren’t put on top of a lampshade, get it checked out promptly.
• Candles: Whenever there's a flame, there's a chance of fire. Residential fires caused by candles are still commonplace and usually result from careless behavior. Burning candles in close proximity to flammable items like drapery or having them within range of a rambunctious pet will often result in disaster.
• Smoking: Even with the overall decline in smoking across the country, it’s still a primary fire hazard. The U.S. Fire Administration announced that 7,800 residential fires were started by smoking in 2021. Falling asleep while holding a cigarette or disposing of smoldering ashes prematurely can give rise to catastrophic results.

The best way to prevent house fires in Joliet is to be diligent at all times. Always keep an eye on things when cooking, don’t ever leave a candle burning, and get rid of cigarettes properly. If you need to use a space heater, do so infrequently and get one that includes an automatic shut-off switch in the event it overturns.

Safeguard your home with a monitored fire alarm in Joliet

You ought to have smoke detectors on each floor and consider using more next to sleeping quarters. But you can take your safety to a new level with a monitored fire alarm. These beneficial safety devices will not only discern smoke but can also be tripped due to elevated heat levels. Additionally, since they are part of your modern smart home, they’ll alert you and your monitoring specialists whenever a disaster takes place. This is a nice benefit, particularly when you’re not home to hear the alarm and phone the fire department yourself.

Safeguard your home against known dangers with a Vivint smart home in Joliet

Elevate the safety of your residence today with a Vivint smart home. You may customize our systems with monitored fire alarms, CO detectors, and flood sensors. You’ll be thankful for the instant updates to your cell phone and the peace of mind that comes with professional monitoring. Dial (815) 427-4864 to get started.