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August 02, 2021

What Causes House Fires In San Francisco And Methods To Avoid Them

When you’re a homeowner, one of the biggest threats to your home and family is the chance of fire. The U.S. Fire Administration projected in 2019 that American homeowners took on nearly $1.6 billion in costs as the result of unforeseen or careless fires. Unfortunately, fires are unexpected and are often avoidable -- with a little knowledge of where to start. And, luckily, you are equipped with a monitored fire alarm that gets you aid immediately if you undergo an outbreak.

What Causes House Fires In San Francisco?

Fires can happen in any spot without notice on the premises. However, you can lower the risk of a blaze by taking safety measures around the following items:

  • Stoves and Ovens: Cooking is the leading cause, by a huge margin, of a house fire in San Francisco. Cooking-related flames most often start when the kitchen goes unattended while cooking food. Water used on a grease fire only works to expand a flame that would on the other hand be easily handled.

  • Candles: Going to sleep in an area with a burning candle is dangerous, even when you use a high-sided candle holder. The flame can easily catch a curtain ablaze if left on a window sill, and animals can bump into candles while exploring. The National Fire Protection Association projects that greater than 7,600 houses were damaged because of candle-related incidents between 2014-2018.

  • Electrical wires: Faulty electrical circuit interrupters, “tamper-resistant” electrical outlets, degrading or incorrectly installed lighting, and split lamp cords can all cause a fire. Be careful not to overload your outlets or plug anything in with exposed wires. And if you hear crackling or catch a whiff of smoke from the outlet, turn the breaker off prior to your investigation.
  • Space Heaters: Skip over coiled space heaters because debris, like dust bunnies, old papers, or blankets can find their way in and alight. However, you need to make sure to oversee fan and ceramic space heaters for the entire duration of operation.
  • Cigarettes: In 2014 alone, U.S. fire departments came to more than 17,000 residence fires triggered by cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. If you have tobacco products that smokes indoors, be certain they never fall asleep with a cigarette or lay in bed with one. And fully extinguish your tobacco items prior to placing it into a trash can.

A Monitored Smoke Detector Does Brings Help Quickly When You Have A Fire

If a fire happens to start, you will need to have an effective detection system to notify your spouse and children before it's too late. An ordinary smoke alarm could suffice but is only able to alert you if smoke is really billowing. A state-of-the-art fire alarm -- a piece of equipment that's tied to your home security system -- can detect both smoke and excess heat and is better equipped to make sure everyone is safe.

A monitored fire alarm has many it can inform you of smoke. Your alarms can alert your family with a high-decibel alarm and an alert to your cell phone. That’s when your always-on monitoring experts will contact the fire department. And if you find yourself somewhere where you aren’t able to speed home when a fire breaks out, you can rest assured that your monitoring agent will maintain contact between you and emergency personnel.

Protect Your Home With Monitored Fire Alarms From Secure24 Alarm Systems

The chance of house fires in San Francisco should never be written off, but you can rest easier if you have a monitored fire alarm in your home. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, and we’ll help you place all the smoke sensors you need with a comprehensive home security system. Call (415) 966-3602 or send in the form below to get your home security system.