Sadly, Californians are no strangers to house fires. Some areas frequently experience wildfires, but often, a fire at home is unrelated to that. These are some statistics on house fires.
Major causes of house fires
Business and home fires rank as some of the biggest disasters affecting Americans. According to the National Fire Protection Association, around 358,000 house fires occur each year. Many of these disasters happen because of human error or faulty heating or wiring.
The top cause of home fires at 36.3% is electrical issues. This is closely followed by cooking at 32.4%.
Fire safety knowledge
In 2020, around 70% of homeowners reported having access to a fire extinguisher. More than half admitted to confusion regarding how many smoke detectors they should own. Although 32% correctly stated that you should have one in each room and floor of your home, nearly 5% believed they only needed a single smoke detector in their house.
Damages and deaths caused by home fires
Annually, home fires cost around $12 billion in damages. Christmas trees are one of the most expensive causes of fire damage; they account for around $17.5 million each year. Many holiday-related fires happen because of candles used for heat.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Fire Incident Reporting System, and the National Safety Council, one person is killed in a fire every 144 minutes; this equates to seven people per day. Home fires also make up 92% of fire-related deaths.
Around 500 children 14 and under die in those disasters. Over half are five and under and die while they are asleep. Most fire-related deaths in homes are due to smoke inhalation.
Taking the right precautions can reduce your risk of a home fire. A fire safety course can educate you on the best preventive measures.