Many times, house fires start in garages. This is due to fact that the key components in creating a fire (heat or flames, fuel, and oxygen) are plentiful in these environments. If your garage is full to the brim with your belongings, it could be a potential fire hazard.
Where are home fires most likely to start? Home fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home. The second leading cause of home fires are heating sources like wood stoves, and fireplaces.
Over 93 percent of these fires occur in attached garages in single or double occupancy homes. These fires are responsible for an average of 30 deaths each year. Fires starting in the garage are also among the most destructive house fires.
Per the USFA (U.S. Fire Administration), electrical malfunctions are the number one cause of garage fires.
1. Cooking. Unattended cooking is listed as the number one cause of residential fires.
Cooking Fires
The #1 cause of house fires, accounting for 42% of reported incidents, is cooking.
One of the most common causes of electrical fires is faulty wiring. This can happen when wires are not properly installed or maintained, and they can start to overheat and catch fire.
Flammable liquids, storage of combustibles, gas appliances and electrical tools can lead to fires. Did you know: Garage fires tend to spread farther and cause more injuries and dollar loss than fires that start in all other areas of the home.
Add fireproof features to your garage
Install fire-rated drywall (Type X or Type C) if you don't already have it in your walls and ceiling. Also, consider replacing the door separating your garage from your living quarters with a fire-resistant, self-closing door.
Arson is the most significant cause of fire and accounts for a large proportion of all fire damage.
Storage of items should be done on shelves away from appliances and electrical outlets. Declutter your garage to minimize the potential fire load. Never smoke or use grills, kerosene heaters, or generators inside a garage. Never use or install solid wood-burning devices (wood, pellet, coal) in a garage.
Fatal residential building fires occur most frequently in the late evening and early morning hours, peaking from midnight to 5 a.m. One-third (33 percent) of fatal residential fires occur during these 5 hours.
Given that our garages are often poorly insulated, they heat up like ovens when temperatures rise – and some of this heat makes its way into adjoining areas of the home.
Fire investigators meticulously examine charred materials, scorch marks, and the overall damage to identify the probable ignition zone. Recognizing distinct 'V' patterns and other indicators is key to tracing back to the fire's starting point.
Refrigerators. Did you know that refrigerators are actually the most common fire-causing appliance in the U.S.? You can blame the fact that refrigerators run all day and night, leading to tired old relay switches and worn-out compressors, both of which are serious fire risks.
Conclusion. In short, the garage needs to be separated from the house in case of fire, but this isn't a fire-rated assembly, nor is it a firewall. The best term for this required separation is a fire-separation wall.
The kitchen and garage are good sites for an extinguisher. However, do not place an extinguisher over the stove or buried in storage in the garage, but rather hang it on the wall no less than 4 inches or greater than 5 feet from the ground.
Electrical malfunction is the leading cause of garage fires. A flame frequently gets started when there is a short in the wires, the wires are damaged or electrical outlets are overloaded. Garage fires are dangerous and more severe because of the amount of flammable materials often stored inside a garage.
By far, the most common reason for a house fire is cooking. In fact, the NFPA states that 48% of house fires start in the kitchen. Pots and pans most often catch fire when the person using them leaves the room. If you have a gas stove, you need to be extra careful about having that open flame.
If you have a garage attached to your home, it is very likely that the swinging door between the garage and the house is required by code to be a 20-minute fire door assembly or the equivalent.
Electrical Problems: Faulty wiring, overloaded outlets, and improper use of extension cords can lead to electrical malfunctions, which are the top cause of garage fires. Clutter: Excessive storage of combustible items can quickly fuel a fire, making it spread more rapidly and become harder to control.
Kitchens. The heart of the home, kitchens are also the most common spot in the house for fires to start.
Any electrical appliance that is left plugged in to the mains could cause a fire. Some appliances like fridges and freezers are designed to be left on, but even these can cause fires if they are not used properly.