A fire can ignite in a home at any time, quickly becoming a situation that requires disaster restoration specialists. However, by knowing the actions that commonly lead to house fires, you can take steps to lower your risk of this type of emergency. To start, review some of the leading causes below.

What Causes House Fires?

1. Cooking

When cooking with grease, many homeowners don’t pay attention to how hot the liquid gets. Cooking-related incidents account for 49% of the house fires in the United States, with most of these emergencies caused by grease.

Vegetable oil will start to smoke at 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and 375 degrees Fahrenheit is the smoking point for animal fats. Once these liquids begin to burn, they won’t take long to ignite. To prevent this, be mindful of how hot your ingredients are getting and immediately remove your pan from a heat source if grease begins smoking.

2. Electrical Problems

Disaster restoration specialists also often have to address damage caused by faulty wiring and other electrical inefficiencies. In fact, approximately 10% of the home structure fires in the U.S. stem from electrical distribution and lighting problems. For example, plugging high-voltage appliances into low-voltage outlets can cause internal wires to overheat and catch on fire. Additionally, faults in cords and receptacles are also safety hazards. If you have any worn, old electrical components in your home, have a licensed electrician replace them to prevent electrical overloads.

3. Smoking

Smoking causes 480,000 deaths each year, and it also causes around five percent of house fires. Cigarette embers can land on furniture, bedding, and other flammable surfaces, which can be particularly dangerous if you've fallen asleep with a lit one in your hand or on your table. Smoking outside or quitting altogether will eliminate these potential dangers.

For help returning your home to its former condition after a fire, contact the disaster restoration specialists at FloodCo in Kalispell, MT. Serving the Flathead Valley and northwest Montana communities, these IICRC-certified technicians provide 24/7 fire and smoke odor removal, carpet cleaning, and additional solutions to remove dangerous toxins and microorganisms from properties. Learn more about how they can help your home online, or call (406) 892-1717 for a consultation.