These Are the Most Common Causes of House Fires

Prism Specialties

February 15th, 2024

These Are the 3 Most Common Causes of House Fires House fires impact hundreds of thousands of American families each year. Tragically, most of the leading causes of house fires are preventable. Lower your risk by taking a proactive approach to house fire prevention by addressing the most common causes. Fire Prevention Statistics Unfortunately, house […]

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These Are the 3 Most Common Causes of House Fires

House fires impact hundreds of thousands of American families each year. Tragically, most of the leading causes of house fires are preventable. Lower your risk by taking a proactive approach to house fire prevention by addressing the most common causes.

Fire Prevention Statistics

Unfortunately, house fires remain a tragically common occurrence. More than 350,000 homes face fire damage annually in the US, claiming the lives of over 2,700 people. Residential fire damage accounted for nearly a quarter of all residential insurance claims in 2022 (23.8%), or approximately $11.5 million.

What Causes House Fires?

Any household activity or function that involves heating is a fire risk. Cooking is the number one cause of house fires in the United States, contributing to nearly half of all fire loss events.

Home heating contributes the second-most fires, with electrical malfunctions and arson among other statistically significant causes.

When homeowners know what causes most house fires, they’re better prepared to take action.

Related Content: What’s Your Fire Risk?

How to Prevent the Top 3 Causes of House Fires

There are many local and national organizations dedicated to providing fire safety resources for families and homeowners. Groups like the National Fire Protection Association distribute useful information about reducing fire risk.

1. Cooking

Cooking stoves are an obvious fire hazard.

Stay alert. Always stay in the kitchen when preparing food. Even if it’s necessary to step out of the room for just a second, turn off the stovetop or oven.
Check in. Monitor dishes regularly, especially when baking or roasting. For meals that take over an hour, consider setting a timer at fifteen- or thirty-minute intervals to check on the stovetop.
Keep the stovetop clear. Never leave flammable objects on the stovetop, including oven mitts, certain utensils, food wrappers, or dish towels. It’s also a good idea to keep nearby items far enough away from the stovetop that they won’t accidentally get pushed onto a burner.

What to do if a cooking fire starts:

Be prepared to tackle cooking fires immediately by knowing exactly what to do:

Keep a pan or pot lid nearby whenever the stovetop is in use. In the event of a fire, immediately turn the oven off and put the lid on the pan. Use a fire extinguisher to completely douse the flame, if required.
For oven fires, immediately turn off the heat and leave the door closed.
Alert family members of the fire and instruct them to get outside.
If the fire isn’t immediately contained, get out of the home and contact emergency fire services.

2. Home Heating Equipment

Most home heating systems have several safety features to reduce the risk of fire. The most common causes of house fires are from alternative heat sources, such as fireplaces or space heaters. It’s usually much safer to rely on a furnace, boiler, or heat pump. But when using other heat sources, follow these tips:

Only use space heaters with automatic shutoffs and keep these devices at least three feet away from clothes, curtains, or other flammable items. (And of course, never use a gas-powered space heater indoors due to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.)
Keep fireplaces completely screened in to prevent sparks or ashes from entering the living space.
Have chimneys professionally cleaned annually to reduce creosote buildup and prevent chimney fires.

3. Preventing house fires from electrical systems

Electrical wiring and appliances are the hardest fire risk for most homeowners to assess. Always count on an experienced electrician to inspect wiring, outlets, and appliance connections, especially after purchasing a home.

Hire professional electricians to install or repair electric wiring.
Repeated blown fuses, visible damage to wiring, and flickering lights are all common signs of faulty wiring. Contact a professional electrician to investigate these issues and recommend repairs.
Prepare for power surges to protect electric devices and reduce the risk of fires.

Of all the ways to prevent house fires, education makes the biggest difference. Make fire prevention a part of daily life and keep all family members aware of ways they can lower home fire risk.

Related Content: Which Household Appliance Causes the Most Fires?

If There’s a Fire, Preserve What Matters Most

Prism Specialties knows all too well what damage a moment’s inattention can do. With fire specialty fire-damage restoration experts located across the country, we stand ready to recover and restore the fire-damaged electronics, art & collectibles, and textiles that matter most to you. Learn more about our work; find a location nearby, or submit a claim today.