Are you aware of the most common sources of house fires? Do you know how to protect your home and yourself from these types of fires? Being aware of these sources and how to protect against fires caused by them could be a matter of life and death so it is a good idea to educate yourself about each one. The most common sources of house fires are:

• Cooking: Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, accounting for about 48% of all fires. Grease fires are the most common type of cooking fire. To prevent cooking fires, never leave the kitchen unattended when cooking, especially if you are cooking with oil or grease. If you are cooking food in a covered container or in an oven, check it regularly to be sure it is not overcooked and becoming a potential cooking fire. If you are cooking while there are other distractions around you, set a cooking timer to remind you when the food is ready for the next step in preparation. Keep any flammable materials stored away from any cooking surfaces or devices. Keep cooking surfaces clean and free of grease buildup. Turn off the stove when you are finished cooking and allow it to cool completely before leaving the kitchen.

• Heating: Heating equipment, such as space heaters, furnaces, and fireplaces, is the second leading cause of home fires, accounting for about 21% of all fires. To prevent heating fires, make sure that your heating equipment is properly installed and maintained. Never overload space heaters and keep flammable materials at least 3 feet away from them. Have your furnace and chimney inspected and cleaned by a qualified professional every year. Be sure that 3-foot space is also a kid free zone to avoid accidents. Never leave space heaters running when you are not at home or are sleeping. These heaters should not be your primary source of heat, and NEVER use the oven as a heat source for anything other than cooking. Be sure you are using the proper fuel for the type of heater you are using and do not light it if you smell gas. Be sure that any area using a portable or space heater is properly ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Electrical: Electrical problems are the third leading cause of home fires, accounting for about 15% of all fires. Electrical fires can be caused by faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and loose connections. To prevent electrical fires, have your electrical system inspected by a qualified electrician every few years. Avoid overloading circuits and make sure that all electrical connections are tight. If any electrical cords are cracked, frayed, or showing any other signs of damage replace them. Do not try to repair them and do not handle them while plugged into an outlet that has electricity flowing to it. Do not use extension cords with appliances. Plug them directly into an appropriate wall outlet.

• Smoking: Smoking materials, such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, are the fourth leading cause of home fires, accounting for about 5% of all fires. Smoking fires are often started when a smoker falls asleep or leaves a lit cigarette unattended. To prevent smoking fires, never smoke in bed and always put out your cigarettes completely before you leave them unattended. If possible, smoke outside and use a safe container to tap ashes into, such as a bucket with sand, instead of risking hot ashes starting a fire inside your home. Be sure your smoking materials (cigarettes, cigars, etc.) are completely extinguished before walking away from them. Never smoke around oxygen or in bed.

• Candles: Candles are the fifth leading cause of home fires, accounting for about 4% of all fires. Candle fires are often started when candles are left unattended or when they are placed too close to flammable materials. To prevent candle fires, never leave candles unattended and always keep them at least 1 foot away from flammable materials. Extinguish candles when you leave the room or go to sleep. Be sure to space the candles more than 3 inches apart to ensure proper burning when in use. Double check to be sure candles are fully extinguished before you leave the room. Just like with portable heaters, keep a 3-foot pet and kid free zone around all open flames including candles. Opt for broader-based candles on a stable surface in a fire-resistant holder to avoid accidents from the candle falling over or being knocked over during use.

Here are some additional general tips to help prevent house fires:

• Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom and on every level of your home. Test your smoke alarms monthly and replace the batteries every year even if they are still working.

• Keep flammable materials at least 3 feet away from any heat sources.

• Keep your home clean and free of clutter.

• Unplug appliances when they are not in use.

• Be sure all vents are cleaned regularly, especially vents for heating appliances such as clothes dryers and your HVAC unit.

• Have your chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned by a qualified professional every year.

• Be aware of the fire hazards associated with your hobbies and activities.

• Teach your children about fire safety.

By following these tips, you can help protect your home from fire.

To protect yourself from fire in your home, be sure you have drills with everyone in the home, so they know all the safest ways to exit the home quickly, where to meet up away from the home to be sure everyone got out safely and everyone knows who to call in the event of an emergency. Regularly check your evacuation routes to be sure they are easily accessible in an emergency. Clear any obstructions from furniture to personal items dropped in the exit pathway. Keep a fire extinguisher in every room of your home and have them checked annually. Be sure everyone living in the home knows how to use the extinguishers because during a fire is not a safe time to learn how to do it. Check your smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries once per year whether they need it or not. Be vigilant about hobbies and activities that have potential fire hazards and be prepared to protect yourself and your home from that risk.

If for any reason, you do have a fire in your home, stay calm and do the following:

1. Evacuate the house immediately.  If there are other people in the house, shout to them to get out. Call 911 as soon as possible to send help to your home.

2. Close all doors and windows behind you to slow the spread of the fire. Do not attempt to do this unless you can safely exit the home. If taking the time to close doors and windows gives the fire the opportunity to cut off your escape route, leave everything and just get out safely.

3. If you can, try to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. If you do not know how to use a fire extinguisher, do not attempt to use it. Do not stay inside the home to fight the fire when your escape route is at risk of being blocked by the fire. Your life is worth more than any possession including the home itself.

4. As soon as you are safe and help is coming, notify your insurance company.

5. When the fire is out and it is safe to return to the home, call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett or ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens to help you get started on your fire & smoke damage restoration.