Ranges and Stoves. With cooking as the most common cause of
Whitegoods and fire safety
Tumble dryers, washing machines, fridges and freezers can all cause electrical fires. Here's what you need to know to stay safe.
Cooking Fires
The #1 cause of house fires, accounting for 42% of reported incidents, is cooking.
Ranges and Stoves. With cooking as the most common cause of house fires in the US, ranges and stoves are at the top of the list for fire-starting appliances. These essential appliances can become hazards mainly due to unattended use.
Don't leave the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher on overnight and unattended. Don't leave mobile phones, tablets or e-cigarettes charging overnight. Check that your hob and oven switches are all off. Turn heaters off, rake out fires and put a fire guard in place.
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.
Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets and old, outdated appliances. Other fires are started by faults in appliance cords, receptacles and switches.
Yes, an outlet can cause a fire if nothing is plugged in. However, it is highly unlikely that your outlet will catch fire with nothing plugged in as long as: You have not just overloaded the outlet and just unplugged something from it. The wiring is not faulty.
Whilst they can start naturally, see Information note - Wildfire, it is estimated that 90% of all wildfires across the globe are caused by humans. About 30% of those are started as a deliberate act of arson, whilst 70% are started accidentally or as a direct result of human carelessness.
House fires usually occur during the evening hours when people are asleep. The main cause of house fires is electrical malfunctions.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that dryers and washing machines cause an average of 15,970 fires each year, with dryers causing 92% of them and an average of $200 million in property damage.
Household appliances like TVs, refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, and irons pose potential hazards for children if not used properly or left unattended. For instance, appliances with frayed or damaged cords can lead to electric shocks if touched or mishandled. One of the prominent dangers is burns and scalds.
Common seasonings such as garlic or cinnamon and garnishes such as orange shavings can catch fire under the right conditions. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. Aside from giving cinnamon its unique flavor and odor, these compounds are also flammable.
1.) Leaving lights on when you are away
Lightbulbs can become very hot and if not used properly can ignite a fire. Example: A few years ago there was a light fixture that was very common in college dorm rooms as it was stylish and fairly cheap. It caused many fires because the shade(s) were made of plastic.
If the switch or switch plate feels hot, that's a serious indicator of an electrical problem and a fire risk. There may be excessive voltage coursing through the switch or upstream problems with the wiring in your walls.
One of the leading causes of electrical fires is loose-fitting plugs. When a plug isn't snug against the outlet, it can cause arcing (a spark of electricity). This can easily ignite flammable materials nearby, leading to a fire. To prevent this, make sure all your plugs fit snugly in their outlets.
These products are designed for use while you are awake and can pose a serious fire risk if left unattended while you are sleeping. Using a heating pad or electric blanket while you are sleeping can pose a significant fire risk, as you may not be aware if the product overheats or malfunction.
Follow the manufacturer's operating instructions and don't overload your dryer. Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.
One of the most prevalent New Year's superstitions is that on January 1 no washing should be done. However, some people go one step further and make it a custom to keep any dirty clothes unwashed from Christmas until New Year's Day.
Unfortunately, leaving any electrical equipment operating while you are asleep is quite risky, as you cannot readily attend to it. Dishwashers, much like tumble dryers and washing machines, generate heat while in operation.