ADT® Authorized Dealer Serving Dover, Wilmington, & All Of Delaware
mother/daughter at bedtime with smoke sensor
August 02, 2021

What Causes House Fires In Dover

As a homeowner, one of the scariest dangers to your property and family is the potential for a fire. The U.S. Fire Administration calculated in 2019 that American homeowners took on nearly $1.6 billion in losses due to unforeseen or unattended fires. Sadly, fires are unexpected and are often preventable -- with a little knowledge of where to act. And hopefully you have a monitored fire alarm that gets you emergency responders ASAP should you ever have an incident.

What Causes House Fires In Dover?

Fires may start in any spot without notice on the premises. However, you can lower the danger of a blaze if you take precautions around the following household objects:

  • Stoves and Ovens: Cooking is overwhelmingly the number 1 cause of a house fire in Dover. Kitchen-related flames typically start when the kitchen is left ignored while making the meal. Water tossed on a grease fire can quickly expand a flame that would on the other hand be easily handled.

  • Candles: Passing out in a space with a going candle is problematic, even when you use a deep candle holder. The flame can blow and catch a curtain on fire if left near a window, and animals can knock candles over. The National Fire Protection Association approximates that more than 7,600 properties were damaged due to candle-related incidents between 2014-2018.

  • Electrical wires: Faulty electrical circuit interrupters, “tamper-resistant” electrical outlets, malfunctioning or incorrectly installed lighting, and split lamp cords can all cause a fire. Don't overload your outlets or plug an item in with exposed wires. And if you hear a pop or smell smoke from the outlet, flip the breaker off before checking it out.
  • Space Heaters: Avoid coiled space heaters because debris, like dust, old papers, or blankets can find their way in and spark up. However, you should also check on fan and ceramic space heaters for the entire duration of operation.
  • Cigarettes: Solely in 2014, U.S. fire departments came to more than 17,000 residence fires triggered by smoking paraphernalia. So if you have a smoker who partakes inside, ensure they never take a nap with a cigarette or smoke in bed. And fully extinguish your paraphernalia before you throw it into a trash can.

A Monitored Smoke Detector Can Help When You Have A Fire

If a fire does break out, you have to have an early warning system to inform your family members before it gets serious. An ordinary smoke alarm might be sufficient but is limited to alerting you if smoke is abundant. A state-of-the-art fire alarm -- a security device that's tied to your home security devices -- is able to discover both smoke and climbing heat and is better equipped to ensure your family is safe.

A monitored fire alarm has several it can alert you of rising heat. Your alarms will notify your loved ones with a high-decibel alarm and a notification to your smartphone. Then your ever-vigilant monitoring experts reaches out to the fire department. And if you find yourself somewhere where you aren’t able to get you your house when a fire starts, you can rest assured that your monitoring agent will maintain communication between you and first responders.

Get Your Monitored Fire Alarms From Secure24 Alarm Systems

The odds of house fires in Dover should never be discounted, but you can rest easier if you have a monitored fire alarm on the premises. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, and we’ll help you place all the safety alarms you need with a comprehensive home security system. Call (302) 238-1722 or fill out the form below to get started.