Happy Fire Prevention Week! Six Shocking Stats for Homeowners 

This week is Fire Prevention Week! It’s no secret that home fires are extremely dangerous. Each year, more than 2,500 people die in house fires, and another 12,000 are injured. On average, seven people in the United States die in house fires each day.

As a homeowner, it’s important to take precautions and ensure that you are as prepared as possible if a fire does occur. Here are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. House Fires Spread Quickly: Did you know that a house fire will double in size every minute after it starts? If you live in a house that is less than 30 years old, once a fire starts, you have less than five minutes to escape.
2. Smoke is More Hazardous Than Flames: Though fire itself can be scarier than smoke, smoke is actually much more hazardous and can more often be fatal. In fact, eight out of every 10 fire fatalities are the result of smoke inhalation.
3. Many Fires Happen at Night: In many cases, house fires occur during the night. This makes the installation of smoke detectors that much more important, as it can be the only way a family is alerted to the presence of a fire while they are sleeping. Practicing fire safety like installing smoke detectors and ensuring they have working batteries can help prevent fire-related injuries and even death. It’s important to note that two-thirds of all fire related deaths occur in homes without a working fire or smoke alarm.
4. Most House Fires Start in the Kitchen: The single most frequent cause of house fires is cooking accidents. In most cases, this involves unattended cooking or overheating grease. In general, electric stoves are involved in more house fires than gas stoves.
5. Candles Are Troublesome: Although they smell good and look beautiful, candles are the culprit of many house fires.

Keep these statistics in mind and you’ll help keep you and your family safe from fire. If you have suffered the worst and experienced fire damage to your home, contact the restoration experts at ServiceMaster of Buncombe County to schedule a visit.