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August 02, 2021

What Causes House Fires In Ocala

When you own a home, one of the scariest perils to your home and family members is the risk of fire. The U.S. Fire Administration estimated in 2019 that American homeowners underwent approximately $1.6 billion in losses as the result of unintentional or careless fires. The terrible truth is fires are unexpected and are often preventable -- with a little knowledge of where to start. And hopefully you are equipped with a monitored fire alarm that gets you emergency responders ASAP if you undergo an incident.

What Causes House Fires In Ocala?

Fires can spark anywhere with no warning in the home. However, you may reduce the danger of fire by taking safety measures around the following objects:

  • Stoves and Ovens: Cooking is far and away the leading cause of a house fire in Ocala. Kitchen-related fires most often start when the kitchen goes unattended during meal preparation. Water tossed on a grease fire can quickly spread a flame that would alternatively die out.

  • Candles: Nodding off in a room with a lit candle is problematic, even if you’re using a high-sided candle holder. The flame can easily catch a curtain on fire if left near a window, and pets can topple candlesticks in their playing. The National Fire Protection Association approximates that just over 7,600 properties were damaged due to candle-related accidents between 2014-2018.

  • Electrical wires: Old electrical circuit interrupters, “tamper-resistant” electrical outlets, aging or improperly set up lighting, and split lamp cords can all cause a fire. Don't overwhelm your outlets or plug an item in with exposed wires. And if you hear a pop or smell smoke from the outlet, power down the breaker off ahead of your investigation.
  • Space Heaters: Look past coiled space heaters because waste, like pet fur, old papers, or blankets can end up in and alight. However, you should also check on fan and ceramic space heaters for the entire duration of operation.
  • Cigarettes: In 2014 alone, U.S. fire departments responded to more than 17,000 home fires caused by cigars, pipes, or cigarettes. So if you have a smoker who partakes inside, ensure they never pass out with a cigarette or smoke in bed. And fully put out your cigarette before you throw it into a trash can.

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

If a fire happens to spark, you have to have a speedy discovery system to notify your loved ones before it gets serious. An ordinary smoke alarm might be sufficient but is only able to alert you if smoke is really billowing. A cutting-edge fire alarm -- a piece of equipment that's tied to your home security devices -- can sense both smoke and excess heat and can do more to ensure your family is safe.

A monitored fire alarm has multiple ways it can inform you of rising heat. Your alarms can inform you with a high-decibel siren and an alert to your cell phone. That’s when your ever-vigilant monitoring experts gets a hold of the fire department. And if you're ever somewhere where you’re unable to race home when a fire blazes, you can have peace of mind that your monitoring agent will maintain communication between you and the fire department.

Protect Your Home With Monitored Fire Alarms From Secure24 Alarm Systems

The odds of house fires in Ocala should never be written off, but you can rest assured if you have a monitored fire alarm in your home. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, and we’ll help you install all the fire sensors you need with a state-of-the-art home security system. Call (352) 325-7261 or send in the form below to get started.