5 Leading Causes of Winter House Fires

4/4/2022 (Permalink)

Winter is the time of the year when you cozy up inside the house with heating, cooked meals, and scented candles. But since many home appliances are working round the clock, the risk for house fires increases significantly. Many other sources can cause a fire in your home during the cold months. Learn what the most common causes of winter house fires are and how to prevent them!

Christmas Tree

Decorating a Christmas tree with lights or candles adds a wonderful aesthetic, but it also poses a fire threat. If you are using too many light strands or the lights are worn out, they can cause a flame. Both artificial and real trees pose the threat of catching fire. Real trees are highly flammable, but artificial ones have dangerous chemicals that can burn severely. 

If you’re buying a real tree, make sure to buy a fresh, green one because trees with dry needles are more prone to catch fire. Add water to the tree daily to prevent it from drying out and make sure the tree is away from any heat sources.

Candles

Scented candles add a lovely ambiance to the house and fill it with a welcoming scent of sugar cookies, vanilla, cinnamon, or any other scent of your choice. But candles are also an open flame and, hence, a fire hazard. Candles are responsible for every two out of five home decoration fires, as per the U.S. Fire Administration. Make sure to blow the candles out when you’re going out or sleeping. Ensure at least a one-foot distance between the candle and any flammable material.

Smoking

Any form of smoking inside the house is a potential fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, smoking material caused an average of 18,100 fires annually during 2012–2016. Though it might be tempting to smoke indoors, always smoke outdoors. Keep the smoking material away from children and any flammable sources.

Dryers

Almost 3,000 house fires every year are caused by dryers catching fire. Lint builds up in the dryer filter and is unable to release heat properly. This happens more frequently in the winter and fall months. Make sure to clean the lint out between uses and have the vent cleaned professionally at least once a year. Only run your clothes dryer when you’re home and awake.

Cooking

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking is the leading cause of house fires. The kitchen gets busy during Thanksgiving and the holidays. Make sure you’re running kitchen appliances only when you’re in the kitchen, keep the stoves clean and clear of any grease build-up, store flammable materials like towels and potholders away from the stove, and keep children and pets away from the stovetop.

Winter brings festivities and opportunities to spend more time with family at home. But you should always be cautious to ensure that your home is not another statistic for winter home fires. If your home suffers from a winter fire, contact SERVPRO of Cedar City / Fillmore for our fire restoration services.