Common Causes of Winter House Fires
The coldest time of the year is actually the most dangerous for house fires. According to a study by the UnitedStates Fire Administration , even though the total number of fires decreases during the winter months, the number of “structural fires” rises. There are a number of different reasons for this. The most common causes of winter home fires are: Cooking Cooking is the leading cause of home fires all year long. In the winter, people tend to cook more and for longer periods. Deep-fryers used for cooking turkeys and other holiday meals cause proportionality more fires (and injuries.) Heating Home heating is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires, deaths and injuries. Space heaters are involved in about 40% or winter fires. Common causes of space heating home fires are lack of regular cleaning, failure to give heaters sufficient space and placing them too close to combustibles; basic flaws in the design of wood-burning heating equipment; and fuel spills. Candles ...