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August 02, 2021

What Causes House Fires In Harrisburg And Methods To Avert Them

When you own a home, one of the most menacing dangers to your house and loved ones is the risk of fire. The U.S. Fire Administration calculated in 2019 that American homeowners suffered about $1.6 billion in damages due to accidental or careless fires. The terrible truth is fires are sudden and many times stoppable -- if you know where to start. And, luckily, you have a monitored fire alarm that sends you help fast should you undergo an incident.

What Causes House Fires In Harrisburg?

Fires may start in any spot without notice in the house. However, you may reduce the danger of a house fire by taking precautions around the following items:

  • Stoves and Ovens: Cooking is far and away the leading cause of a house fire in Harrisburg. Kitchen-related blazes most often start when the kitchen is left neglected while cooking food. Water thrown on a grease fire only works to escalate a flame that would on the other hand be contained.

  • Candles: Nodding off in a space with a lit candle is dangerous, even when you use a high-sided candle holder. The flame is more than capable of catching a curtain ablaze if left on a window sill, and pets can bump into candles while exploring. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that just over 7,600 homes were damaged due to candle-related incidents between 2014-2018.

  • Electrical wires: Corroded electrical circuit interrupters, “tamper-resistant” electrical outlets, aging or incorrectly set up lighting, and split lamp cords are all prone to sparks. Be careful not to overburden your outlets or plug anything in with uncovered wires. And if you hear popping or smell smoke from the outlet, flip the breaker off ahead of investigating.
  • Space Heaters: Look past coiled space heaters because waste, like pet fur, paper or plastic scraps, or blankets can end up in and spark up. However, you need to make sure to oversee fan and ceramic space heaters whenever the device is in usage.
  • Cigarettes: Just in 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to more than 17,000 home fires caused by cigars, pipes, or cigarettes. So if you have a smoker in the house, ensure they never take a nap with a cigarette or smoke in bed. And fully put out your paraphernalia prior to placing it into a trash can.

A Monitored Smoke Detector Can Help When It Senses A Fire

If a fire happens to spark, you have to have an effective detection system to notify your loved ones before it gets serious. A common smoke alarm could suffice but is limited to alerting you if smoke is abundant. An advanced fire alarm -- a piece of equipment that's connected to your home security devices -- can detect both smoke and climbing heat and is better equipped to ensure your family is safe.

A monitored fire alarm has multiple means it can inform you of a fire. Your alarms can inform your loved ones with an ear-piercing siren and a notification to your mobile device. All the while, your 24/7 monitoring experts will contact the fire department. And if you're ever somewhere in which you aren’t able to get you your house when a fire starts, you can be reassured that your monitoring agent will facilitate communication between you and first responders.

Protect Your Home With Monitored Fire Alarms From Secure24 Alarm Systems

The chance of house fires in Harrisburg should never be discounted, but you can rest assured if you use a monitored fire alarm on hand. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, and we’ll help you place all the fire sensors you need with a comprehensive home security system. Call (717) 256-1545 or submit the form below to get your home security system.