
Fireman Reveals The Biggest Causes Of House Fires
1. Candles - left unattended 
Image source / RedditEvery candle comes with a warning that it should never be left unattended, once lit. Those people who choose to ignore this or simply forget, do so at their own risk as many fires are caused this way, especially around the festive period. Firefighters say too many unnecessary blazes are causd this way.Advertisement
2. Electric Blankets - faulty wiring

Experts report that many thousands of house fires are caused by electric blankets every year. The fires typically occur due to manufacturing errors such as improperly installed wiring or a faulty control unit. Leaving the blanket on all night, when instructions advise otherwise, is another unfortunate cause.
3. Laptop Charging - generates more heat than you think

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4. Leaving Pan On The Stove - it overheats

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5. Overloading Washing Machine - plus build up of lint

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6. Hair Tools - dryers and straighteners

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7. Holiday Decorations - Xmas is high risk

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8. Smoking - falling asleep with lit cigarette

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9. Clutter - full of combustibles

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10. Chemicals And Gasses - waiting to escape

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11. Lightening - stormy fire

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12. Barbecue Grill - out of control flames

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13. Electrical Systems and Devices - unknown danger to homeowners

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14. Children - danger of being inquisitive

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15. Normal Fires That Get Out Of Control - doesn't take long

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16. Flammable Liquids - if they get near heat

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17. Space Heaters - not enough clearance around it

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18. Clothing Catching Fire - sleeves flapping over flames

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19. Heating Your Home With The Oven - bad idea

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20. Overloading Extension Leads - cords could burn up

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21. Oil Heaters - if oil leaks out

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22. Plug-In Fragrances - nice odor but nasty consequences

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23. Fireworks - landing on tinder dry area in yard

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24. Arson - enough said

Unfortunately, arson attacks are on the rise in the States, all malicious but some being planned as a small fire (still arson) but getting out of control. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines arson as "any wilful or malicious burning or attempting to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc."
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25. Insurance Claim - you won't get away with it

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26. Gas Leak - build-up leads to explosion

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27. No Working Smoke Alarm - too little too late

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28. Water Heaters - lack of maintenance

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29. Kitchen Grease - can start a fire without open flame

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30. Burning Trash - exposure to smoke can be fatal

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31. Not Emptying Lint From Your Dryer

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Not only does a build up of lint in your dryer mean it's performing less efficiently and taking longer to dry your clothes, but it's also a house fire risk. If you don't clean your dryer, or empty out the lint, on a regular basis, it can risk a fire. You should empty the lint every time you use it before the next cycle!Advertisement
32. Top Tips For Preventing House Fires: Check Your Smoke Alarms Regularly

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The best way to do this is just to set a quick reminder alarm on your phone to check every month. Otherwise, it's likely you'll forget! Then you can check they're in working order and whether the batteries need replacing, so that you're always safe and get into the habit of checking regularly.Advertisement
33. Never Leave Your Christmas Lights On When You Go Out

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It can be tempting to leave your tree lights - and any other festive lights - you have on while you nip out, because you think you'll only be 20 minutes at the store, so it'll be fine. But if a fire was to start, 20 minutes is enough time to set your house on fire! It's not worth the risk, so just switch them off when you're not in.Advertisement
34. Now's The Time To Quit Smoking

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If there was ever a good time to quit smoking, it's when you're already thinking about how to keep your home protected from a fire! If you give up smoking then there's less of a risk you'll accidentally start a fire with a cigarette. So it's a win win for your home and for your health really.Advertisement
35. Or, At Least Don't Smoke On Soft Furnishings

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Of course, you don't have to quit smoking if you don't want to, because you can still keep your home safe as long as you're being extra careful with cigarettes. It's a good idea to at least not smoke in bed with such flammable sheets, and also avoid smoking on soft furnishings like a fabric couch or chair.Advertisement
36. Teach Your Kids Fire Safety

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Kids are one of the worst risks for home fires when they start messing, poking and prodding, so it's only going to be a good thing if you teach them about fire safety. Take the time to let them know how to stay safe in the home, and what they should and shouldn't be doing in terms of fire and flammable risks!Advertisement
37. Think About Getting A Fire Blanket And Extinguisher For Your Home

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Things like fire extinguishers aren't just reserved for the workspace - it's never going to be a bad thing to have one in your home. If you have a big property, it's a good idea to have an extinguisher for every level of your house so there's only one nearby. A fire blanket for the kitchen is also a great idea for protecting from things like stove fires.Advertisement
38. Get Into The Habit Of Closing Doors

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Fire spreads quickly when there are open doors throughout the property. If you get into the habit of closing doors behind you, it'll mean less time or risk of a fire spreading if one happens to start. This is most important to do at night when you go to bed, in case one starts during the night. Make sure all doors are closed!Advertisement
39. Check Your Electrical Cords Regularly

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Just give your extension cords and plugs a quick once over whenever you're going to plug something in, or on a regular basis. If you're not making an active effort to do that - especially if you have leads always plugged in that you never see, like ones stuffed behind your desk - then any faulty wires and plug issues will be missed!Advertisement
40. Don't Leave Things On Standby

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It's so easy to do this these days, especially with the amount of home tech products around the house. Leaving things on standby not only makes fire more of a risk if they're plugged in all the time, but it can cost you extra on your electricity bill, too - so why not switch off completely and save yourself both risk and money?Advertisement
41. Have An Escape Plan In Place

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No matter what you do to stay safe, there's still a risk of a fire breaking out. One of the best things you can do is put an escape plan in place for you and anyone you live with, so you all know what you'd do in the event of a fire. Where would be safe for you to exit? What would you do if the main exit was blocked?Advertisement
42. Keep Lighters And Matches Out Of Reach Of Children

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It's for the best if you keep matches and lighters high up out of the reach of children - better yet in locked cupboards or boxes in case they still find a very long stick and are able to knock them off a high shelf! Do what you need to do to keep those sticky fingers away from a box of matches!Advertisement
43. Declutter Your Home

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Not only is this a great idea for your own sense of wellbeing and cleanliness, but it'll mean less flammable materials in your home. As well as that, it'll also reduce the trip or door-block risk, if you're trying to get out from a home fire and you have a pile of clutter blocking a door or making you trip over!Advertisement
44. Try To Buy More High-Quality Items

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We know how expensive it can be to furnish the home, and sometimes those cheap second hand items are too good to pass up. When it comes to electrical items like TVs and appliances, just make sure to always double check the quality. If it looks seriously suss, try to buy brand new items that are less likely to break or cause electrical issues!Advertisement
45. Consider Moving

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This one might seem like a huge leap, but if you've already been thinking about getting a new place, certain properties can be less of a fire risk when it comes to neighbors. If you live in a high block of flats, or even in a terraced property, you're at more of a risk of home fires spreading that start in your neighbor's homes that are out of your control. Living in a house instead of a flat, or a semi-detached/detached property, will lessen the risk.Advertisement
46. Extinguish Your Fireplace Completely

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It's so tempting to just leave your fireplace alone when it looks like the fire's gone out and there are barely any embers, especially if you're ready for bed. But it's worth extinguishing your fire completely if you've had one going, even if it looks like it's completely gone out. Don't leave it unattended if there are still some embers or fuel in there!Advertisement
47. Use Flameless LED Candles Instead

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If you like candles for the light source and ambience, you might be happy to switch to LED candles instead that get rid of the flame risk altogether! If you're not bothered about scented candles then this could be the solution for you. You still get all the flickering cozy fun, without the fire risk.Advertisement
48. Get A Carbon Monoxide Detector

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It's important to have working smoke detectors in your home, but it's also important to have a carbon monoxide detector. This is also a must-have if you have a wood-burning stove. You should get a detector and check the battery on it as regularly as you check your smoke alarms - so just do a full sweep!Advertisement
49. Short Blinds Might Be Better Than Long Curtains

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If you want to be extra careful, and you're not overly fussed about having curtains, having a short blind made from metal or wood which is fitted inside your window can be a better option than very long and flammable curtains - especially in small homes where you might have an open flame near the curtains, like candles or your actual fireplace!Advertisement
50. Keep An Eye On Pets

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Especially cats who like to climb on things they shouldn't, they could be a huge risk for knocking over candles or even being a flame risk themselves if they move their tail near the fireplace! And obviously when it comes to younger pets that might not be housetrained yet, you have the risk of them spilling their water or urinating on electrical sockets, so have a good plan in place for pet-watching!Advertisement