Disasters are unpredictable by nature; otherwise the damage and injuries they cause would be minimal. In the case of fires, there are some patterns about them and if you are aware of them and take a few precautions, you can cut your chances of experiencing a fire dramatically.

All of the following include the 3 most common places that fires occur:

• Kitchen
• Bedrooms
• Outside near grills

3 Most Common Places That Fires Occur

Check out the most common places for fires to take extra precaution in these areas.

According to the American Red Cross, more fires start in the kitchen than in any other room in the home. Pans can easily scorch or boil over if left unattended, causing a fire on a stovetop. Burned bits of food that fall onto the bottom of the oven can ignite, especially if grease is dripping down on them.

Bedrooms are another location that is a common source for fires. Many people who smoke do so in bed and either don’t extinguish their cigarettes properly, or fall asleep first, leading to fires on beds. Candles add atmosphere and smell lovely, but if they’re crowded on a table next to tissues and a best-seller, they can easily be knocked over and start a fire.

Barbecue grills are great for making a fast dinner in the summer, but they’re also a prime spot for a fire if the grill is located too close to the house, garage, or shed. Grilled meats such as bratwurst are often fatty and drip grease onto the fire, leading to flareups. Any changes in wind direction can blow flames towards nearby tables, especially if the gas is too high or someone used too much lighter fluid.

Most Common Days and Times for Fires

Fires can happen any time of day or night, 365 days a year, but especially during holidays. Fires increase in the fall and winter, peaking in December and January, as more people spend time indoors and use heaters to warm their homes.

Improper use of fireplaces, wood stoves, and space heaters are major contributors to fires at this time of year. Fires seem to occur most often on Saturdays and Sundays, and despite what Hollywood dramas might make you think, most fires don’t happen in the middle of the night. The most common time for fires is between 6 and 7 p.m., a common time for people to cook dinner.

How To Reduce Your Fire Risk

Test Smoke Alarms

Everyone knows it’s important to have smoke alarms on every level and outside every bedroom, but it’s also important to ensure they work properly. The Red Cross recommends testing all smoke alarms two times each year. Batteries should be replaced yearly; many people like to change their batteries when they do a once a year activity, such as move clocks forward or back. Alarms become less sensitive over time and should be replaced every 10 years.

Never leave candles burning unattended or leave them on a cluttered surface where they can be tipped over. Be sure they are on a stable, study base at all times.

Never smoke in bed.

Know How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Be sure you are familiar with using your fire extinguisher. You may think you know how to use it, but in an emergency, you may forget everything unless you’ve practiced using it several times. If you don’t understand how to use it, contact the manufacturer or the local fire department.

Cooking Safety

Pay attention when cooking food and never leave it unattended. Clean debris from the bottom of the oven on a regular basis and wipe up splatters as soon as the cooktop cools.

Keep barbecue grills away from structures, tables, and anything else that may be flammable. Use only a small amount of lighter fluid for charcoal and never squeeze more onto flames. Monitor the cooking at all times, especially when cooking fatty foods, and keep the flame low enough that wind gusts won’t direct flames onto nearby surfaces. Have a water source or fire extinguisher nearby in case things get out of control.

Recovering from Fire Damage

Be sure to contact a fire damage restoration professional immediately after encountering a fire on your property.

By following safety protocols, using common sense, and when paying attention you’re in “danger zones”, you can reduce your chances of falling victim to a fire in your home. You won’t be able to eliminate the risks, but you can diminish them significantly, without spending extra money or time.

If your home or business in St. Charles or O’Fallon, MO or Collinsville, IL has been affected by fire, call the highly skilled experts at RestorationMaster. Their technicians have years of experience restoring damaged caused by fires of all sizes. They also use professional equipment and cleaning products to repair and restore items damaged by fire, water, and soot, even items you thought were beyond salvaging.

Our staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (636) 492-3030 for emergency fire damage restoration services.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.