Not all house fires are the result of accidents in the kitchen or carelessness with candles. We’ve picked out some of the more unexpected fire hazards that you should be aware of, such as decorative Christmas lights or a build-up of crumbs in the toaster.
In the Living Room
Household wiring
It’s easy to overlook potential fire hazards that you can’t immediately see. So it’s vital to check household wiring for signs of wear and tear.
A registered electrician should check the electrical installation of your house. But there are day-to-day visual checks homeowners can carry out themselves. These include checking plugs and sockets for signs of damage.
Electrical products
Many domestic fires arise from an electrical source. Always buy adaptor plugs and other household electrical products from reputable sources. This will avoid the risk of sub-standard and dangerous electrical parts. Overloading electrical sockets is another fire risk. With extension bars, the total amps should not exceed the limit specified. This is usually 10-13 amps.
Glassware
Most of us don’t think twice about placing glass ornaments or a vase on a windowsill. But it’s important to be aware that this can be a fire risk if your window is a sun trap. Glassware can cause a magnifying effect on a particularly sunny day. If the sun’s rays become focused on a patch of carpet or curtains, this can cause a fire.
Dust
If dust builds up near electrical sockets or around heaters it can ignite and cause a fire, so the area around them should be hoovered regularly.
Christmas lights
As pretty as they are to come home to, Christmas lights should be turned off when leaving the house as they can be a fire risk.
Candles
There’s nothing like a candle to help you de-stress. But they should always be in a candle holder and at least 10 cm apart – and never under shelving or other surfaces.
In the Kitchen
Cluttered kitchens
Household fires often occur in the kitchen. It usually starts in a moment of distraction whilst cooking. Faulty electrical appliances can be a cause too. Cluttered kitchens are another hazard to be aware of. Particularly when tea towels and other flammable items are too close to the hob.
Toaster crumbs
A build-up of crumbs in the toaster creates a lot of smoke. This can set the smoke alarm off every time you try to make breakfast. They can also spark and cause a kitchen fire.
Deep fat frying
Those who like fried foods should invest in an electric deep-fat fryer with a thermostat. A pan full of spitting, hot oil is not only dangerous to be around, but if it overheats it can cause a fire.
In the Bedroom
Electric blankets
Electric blankets should have the appropriate safety symbol. Never fold an electric blanket as it can damage the wiring.
Hair styling tools
Don’t forget to unplug your hair straighteners and other styling tools. They can result in a blaze quicker than you might think. After use, always unplug styling tools and place them on a heatproof mat.
Cluttered cupboards
You may not think a cluttered cupboard is a big issue. But hoarding is a major fire risk – especially if your storage cupboard has a light source. Never let clothing and other combustible materials touch with a hot light bulb. They can ignite.
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