We’ve all heard about the common causes of household fires: accidents while cooking,
matches and lighters in the wrong hands, lint accumulation in the dryer and space heater
mishaps, to name a few. However, fires are often unpredictable, and they can ignite in
bizarre ways. Find out what hidden fire hazards may be in your home and take action to
protect yourself and your possessions today.
Home Fire Hazards to Avoid
It’s easy to think of house fires happening primarily in older homes due to faulty wiring or
outdated building materials, but brand-new homes are at risk, too. The open floor plans in
many of today’s homes allow more oxygen to fuel a house fire, and synthetic furnishings
and building materials burn faster than the materials used decades ago. Here, we’re
explaining some lesser-known fire hazard examples that could be in your home, what
makes them dangerous and how to prevent them from catching fire.
1. Products Recalled Because of a Fire Hazard
One of the best ways you can promote fire safety in the home is to periodically keep an eye
on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website to make sure you don’t have
products recalled for a fire hazard. Commonly recalled items include:
Microwaves
Indoor generators
Ovens
Clothing washers and dryers
Lamps
Computer batteries
2. Loose Outlets
When you plug something into an outlet in your home, do you notice the cords falling out
easily? This may seem like an annoyance, but it could be part of a larger problem —
according to This Old House, the blades inside electrical outlets loosen over time. Loose
blades can generate intense heat and lead to fires. If you notice that your plugs don’t fit
snugly, replace them to help avoid this potential fire hazard.
3. Excess Sawdust
Sawdust doesn’t look very dangerous, but any DIY-er knows that it collects quickly when
working on a project. Sawdust accumulates fast and is a highly combustible material when
left on surfaces. Regularly clean work surfaces with a vacuum designed to collect
combustible dust or install a good dust collection system in work areas. Avoid using
compressed air in a can to blow sawdust off surfaces: It can propel the dust into the air,
where it can more easily ignite.
4. Pantry Staples
Powdered goods like flour and sugar consist of fine particles that can easily burn if added
to a hot pan without anything else in it. If flour spills into direct flame, it can ignite. Due to
flour being a carbohydrate, flour is even more explosive when it is mixed with the air.
When exposed to a spark or flame, the mix of flour and oxygen can cause explosions. In
fact, flour dust caused a Minnesota mill to explode in 1878, and similar explosions are
reported every year. Non-dairy milk and creamer in powder form have the same ignition
properties as flour. Sugar can also become flammable when dispersed, so keep this away
from open flames to avoid a disaster at the breakfast table.
5. Nail Polish Remover
Acetone, commonly known as nail polish remover, is also highly flammable. Combustible
liquids like this don't catch fire themselves. Rather, the vapors they give off are flammable.
Nail polish remover should not be used near open flames, outlets or any other place where
sparks can occur.
6. Dangerous Combination of Bathroom Chemicals
Bathroom chemicals can easily become a fire risk and should be kept to a minimum in your
household. The combination of ammonia, household bleach and acid-based cleaners can
cause toxic vapor clouds that can combust, causing internal burning of the lung lining and
more.
7. 9-Volt Batteries
Be sure to store and dispose of 9-volt batteries safely. Even if you place the batteries in a
separate bag to be recycled, you may still create a fire risk. When 9-volt batteries touch
metal in the garbage can or while rolling around in your junk drawer, they can spark,
igniting fires.
8. Vintage Appliances
Vintage style is popular, and there are many classic treasures to be found at garage sales or
hidden away in your parents’ attic. It’s important to remember that old-fashioned
appliances were made following outdated safety standards, and time has likely taken its
toll on the wiring. Closely inspect all plug-ins and wires on old products, and don’t risk
keeping them in your home if things don’t look right.
9. Materials Placed Near a Fireplace
This one may seem like common sense, but it’s easy to think that if items are not in contact
with an open flame, they are safe. However, just constantly being near the heat can cause
materials to break down and become combustible, a process known as pyrolysis. This type
of fire doesn’t need flames or sparks to ignite.
10. Bird Nests on Outdoor Lights
Some people don’t consider the things outside their homes, like house lights, to cause fires.
Surprisingly, there have been cases of houses catching fire caused by bird nests sitting on
top of outdoor lights. The next time you’re doing yard work, take the time to take a quick
peek at any outdoor light bulbs to ensure there’s nothing nearby that could catch fire, such
as branches, leaves and, yes, even bird nests.
11. Glass or Crystal Decor
Although unusual, it is possible for glass or crystal items in your home to be the hidden
cause of a fire. Depending on how sunny it gets outside, glass ornaments that are in direct
sunlight can potentially reflect highly concentrated beams of light into the home, starting
fires.
12. Clothes Dryers
One of the most common causes of house fires is appliances, but you may not realize that
your clothes dryer could be the culprit. According to the National Fire Protection
Association, more than 13,000 house fires involved a dryer from 2014 to 2018. One-third of
the fires were caused by lack of cleaning, largely from a build-up of dust, fiber or lint that
ignited. (So, clean that lint trap!)
13. Linseed Oil
If you’ve recently completed a few home improvement projects, you may have linseed oil
laying around the house. This product is often used to polish wood furnishings, and when
left on a rag, it can spontaneously combust. Instead of tossing used rags in the corner with
your other project supplies, take the time to dispose of them properly right away.
14. Smoke Detectors
When functioning properly, smoke detectors are a vital part of home fire safety, but they
can also provide a false sense of security if they aren’t regularly maintained. Far too often,
people remove the batteries to stop false alarms, forget to replace the batteries when they
die, or fail to have detectors in every room, leaving themselves and their home at risk. Be
sure to regularly check that your smoke detector is still working as it should.
Quick Home Fire Safety Tips
Once you’ve addressed the fire risks and hazards in your home, use this checklist to take
your home fire safety one step further to protect your family and possessions.
Store important documents such as birth certificates, passports and social security cards
in a fireproof safe.
Have a fire escape plan and practice it! Practice escaping from your home at least twice a
year and at different times of the day.
Test smoke alarms twice a month and replace the batteries every six months.
Do not sleep with portable heaters on.
Keep pets off cooking surfaces and countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto
the burner.
Protect Your Home
There are many things one can do to help prevent house fires, but one never knows
when the unexpected may happen. Check to see if your homeowner’s policy has
fire covered and review it. If it doesn’t then one should call and get it added or look
for a homeowner’s insurance that will cover it.
Mary Cockburn
505-639-2090
MaryCockburn.Realtor@gmail.com
