Brian White | July 5, 2022 | Premises Liability
The numbers tell us that most house fires in Texas are preventable. Nevertheless, they occur regularly and leave extensive property damage, and sometimes human casualties, in their wake. By understanding how these blazes occur, you can help reduce the risk of one in your home.
1. Cooking
It’s unfortunate that an activity virtually all households must engage in is also the leading cause of house fires. Whether you’re using a gas burner or electric stove top, your home is always at risk of a fire while you’re cooking.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), from 2014 to 2018, two-thirds of cooking fires happened when food or cooking materials ignited. In some cases, the person cooking stepped away for too long, whereas in others, the meal cooking on the stove was forgotten.
2. Heating Equipment
The same NFPA study found that nearly 50,000 home fires were caused by heating equipment, making it the second leading cause of fires. Annually, these fires resulted in around 500 deaths, making this the third leading cause of fire deaths in the U.S. Heating fires also caused over $1 billion in yearly property losses during those years.
Most heating fires occur in December, January, and February. Commonly, house and apartment fire victims position space heaters too close to flammable objects in an attempt to be warmer and fall asleep with them in a precarious position. Four out of five heating fire deaths are caused by portable heaters.
3. Electrical Fires
The immense power it takes to power homes is a constant but contained risk. Under normal circumstances, the risk of electrical fire is low. However, human error plays a big role in igniting electrical fires, which typically cause hundreds of deaths and over $1 billion in property damage every year.
Lighting and electrical distribution equipment most often cause fires in this category. With that being said, they’re not as lethal as other fires, such as those caused by defective wiring or cords and plugs.
Oftentimes, cord-related electrical fires are caused by space heaters or other high-draw appliances that overload the capacity of the extension cord, resulting in intense heat followed by fire.
4. Smoking
Smoking includes anything commonly used to engage in the smoking of tobacco, cannabis, or other substances. It is the leading cause of home fire deaths every year, despite the fact that the percentage of the population that smokes tobacco has decreased markedly over the past 60 years.
Most of these blazes start indoors, and they have an elevated risk of death that rises as a person ages. Although most smoking fires occur from traditionally lit cigarettes, fires from electronic cigarettes are on the rise. Also, the batteries that power them may explode while charging, in use, or lying around.
5. Candles
Although not used as a primary source of light, candles are still widely employed in households for a variety of purposes, including:
- Supplementary lighting
- Scent
- Religious purposes
- Emergency lighting
A candle fire often breaks out due to the combined factors of the candle being left unattended and too close to flammable materials, as was the case with this Thanksgiving Day fire.
In this case, a basket of nail polish, makeup, and other associated items was placed too close to an unattended candle in a bathroom in a Texas home. A fire broke out. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but there was extensive damage.
Rebuilding After a Fire in Texas
Fire victims’ woes do not end when the flames are extinguished. Rebuilding and rehabilitation after a house fire are difficult processes, complicated at times by compensation procedures and unreasonable insurance companies.
Having a skilled attorney during this process will help ensure that you have the resources you need to rebuild for the future.
Contact the Houston Premises Liability Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help
For more information, contact the Houston premises liability law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
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Houston, TX 77098
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