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August 02, 2021

What Causes House Fires In New York City

As a homeowner, one of the most menacing perils to your house and family is the potential for a fire. The U.S. Fire Administration calculated in 2019 that American homeowners took on about $1.6 billion in costs due to accidental or unattended fires. The terrible truth is fires are unpredictable and are frequently avoidable -- if you know where to act. And hopefully you are equipped with a monitored fire alarm that gets you emergency responders ASAP should you undergo an emergency.

What Causes House Fires In New York City?

Fires may start anywhere at any time in the home. However, you can lessen the risk of fire if you take countermeasures around the following objects:

  • Stoves and Ovens: Cooking is the leading cause, by a huge margin, of a house fire in New York City. Cooking-related fires commonly result when the kitchen is left neglected during meal preparation. Water thrown on a grease fire only works to expand a flame that would on the other hand be contained.

  • Candles: Nodding off in an area with a going candle is dangerous, even when you use a recessed candle holder. The flame can blow and catch a curtain ablaze if left near a window, and a dog or cat can knock candles over. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that greater than 7,600 properties were damaged because of candle-related incidents between 2014-2018.

  • Electrical wires: Corroded electrical circuit interrupters, “tamper-resistant” electrical outlets, malfunctioning or incorrectly set up lighting, and cut lamp cords are all prone to sparks. Be careful not to overburden your outlets or plug an item in with bare electrical components. And if you hear crackling or detect smoke from the outlet, flip the breaker off ahead of investigating.
  • Space Heaters: Look past coiled space heaters because waste, like dust bunnies, old papers, or covers can find their way in and catch fire. However, you should also check on fan and ceramic space heaters whenever the device is in use.
  • Cigarettes: Just in 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to more than 17,000 home fires started by cigars, pipes, or cigarettes. So if you have a smoker in the house, make sure they never take a nap with a cigarette or smoke in bed. And fully extinguish your tobacco items before you toss it into a waste bin.

A Monitored Smoke Detector Does Brings Help Quickly When There’s A Fire

If a fire happens to break out, you definitely want to have an early discovery system to inform your spouse and children before it gets serious. An ordinary smoke alarm might be sufficient but can only alert you if smoke is abundant. A cutting-edge fire alarm -- a piece of equipment that's pair with your home security network -- is powerful enough to discover both smoke and rising temperatures and can do more to make sure everyone’s safety.

A monitored fire alarm has several ways it can alert you of rising heat. Your alarms will notify you with an ear-piercing siren and a message to your mobile device. That’s when your ever-vigilant monitoring experts gets a hold of the fire department. And if you find yourself somewhere in which you can't get home when a fire blazes, you can have peace of mind that your monitoring agent will maintain contact between you and the fire department.

Protect Your Home With Monitored Fire Alarms From Secure24 Alarm Systems

The odds of house fires in New York City should never be underestimated, but you can rest easier if you use a monitored fire alarm in your home. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, and we’ll help you place all the fire alarms you need with a comprehensive home security system. Call (212) 553-6591 or fill out the form below to get started.