subject: Top Causes Of Summer House Fires In Virginia State [print this page] In the state of Virginia, one resident lost their life in a fire every 16 hours in 2011. The figure released by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs is petrifying. You need to protect yourself and your family from any such tragedy. By being prepared and informed, you can greatly reduce those figures if you know the common causes of a fire around the house.
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs has released its statistics for the year of 2011, and the picture is not very appealing. The given data states that fire departments all across the state of Virginia responded to an average of 1,875 fire incidents a day. Meaning, there was a call made once every 46 seconds across the state. The total loss resulting from fires that occurred in Virginia in 2011 was a whopping $239 million. All these figures paint a grim picture, at the same time you are forced to realize the gravity of the situation. You should never leave anything to chance, as you never know who will be on the list of victims.
It is important to know the general causes of a fire around the house during summer. While December and January account for 10% of all house fires, during summer months less than 8% of house fires and less than 6% of fatal fires are reported. When translating the percent of house fires into quantitative figures, we arrive at an estimated 16,000 house fires that occurred in the month of June, including 60 fatal fires. Although the statistics are from 2008, they are still recent, meaning you should not let your guard down during the hot season.
Common causes of house fires in the summer:
1. Cooking: Cooking mistakes and accidents are the undisputed number one cause of fires in homes. In fact, usually more than 30% of fires are generated from the kitchen. It can be a fire that starts from grease or oil igniting from an unattended stove. It can also be a fire that is initiated by items near the stove catching fire from the heat of the burner. Outdoor cooking has also been noted as a culprit behind many cases; summer barbeques account for more than 17% of fires in July. 39% of fires happen in May, June and August due to people incorrectly operating their grills and the propane or charcoal in the grill.
2. Another leading cause of fatal fires at home is smoking. Generally from those who dont extinguish their still-burning cigarette and simply litter when finished, tossing it anywhere, resulting in a fire.
3. Arson fires are considered to be the third-leading cause of house fires resulting in injuries and fatalities. Mostly people use fireworks around the 4th of July and improper handling may start many outdoor and indoor fires.
4. Electrical Appliances: During the summertime, appliances can become overheated, leading to a fire. Appliances that are most applicable to fires during summer are air conditioners, which are the biggest cause of a fire, followed by microwaves, and irons.
Keep these causes in mind and secure your home from any fire damage Arlington VA residents must also keep a note of trusted fire damage restoration services to call upon immediately in the event of a fire. The sooner action is taken, the more successful you will be to minimalize damages and save or salvage as many items as possible.
