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August 02, 2021

What Causes House Fires In Oakland And How To Avoid Them

As a homeowner, one of the scariest threats to your property and loved ones is the potential for a fire. The U.S. Fire Administration projected in 2019 that American homeowners took on nearly $1.6 billion in losses due to unintentional or negligent fires. Sadly, fires are unpredictable and are frequently stoppable -- if you know where to look. And, fortunately, you are equipped with a monitored fire alarm that sends you emergency responders ASAP if you experience an outbreak.

What Causes House Fires In Oakland?

Fires can spark in any spot at any time in the house. However, you may reduce the danger of fire by taking precautions around the following objects:

  • Stoves and Ovens: Cooking is far and away the leading cause of a house fire in Oakland. Cooking-related flames typically begin when the kitchen goes neglected during meal preparation. Water thrown on a grease fire will escalate a flame that would otherwise die out.

  • Candles: Going to sleep in a room with a going candle is problematic, even when you use a deep candle holder. The flame can easily catch a curtain ablaze if left near a window, and animals can topple candlesticks in their playing. The National Fire Protection Association approximates that greater than 7,600 properties were damaged because of candle-related incidents between 2014-2018.

  • Electrical wires: Faulty electrical circuit interrupters, “tamper-resistant” electrical outlets, malfunctioning or poorly set up lighting, and frayed lamp cords can all cause a fire. Be careful not to overwhelm your outlets or plug any object in with uncovered electrical components. On the off chance you hear popping or detect smoke from the outlet, power down the breaker off ahead of investigating.
  • Space Heaters: Avoid coiled space heaters because junk, like dust bunnies, paper or plastic scraps, or blankets can accidentally make contact and catch fire. However, you should also monitor fan and ceramic space heaters whenever the device is in use.
  • Cigarettes: Solely in 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to more than 17,000 home fires started by smoking paraphernalia. So if you have a smoker who partakes inside, make sure 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 Can Helps When You Have A Fire

If a fire should spark, you have to have an early warning system to alert your loved ones before it's too late. A common smoke alarm is adequate but is limited to alerting you if smoke is in thick clouds. An advanced 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 make sure everyone’s safety.

A monitored fire alarm has multiple means it can alert you of smoke. Your alarms can inform you with an incredibly loud tone and a notification to your smartphone. Then your ever-vigilant monitoring experts will contact the fire department. And if you find yourself somewhere where you aren’t able to get back in time when a fire breaks out, you can rest assured that your monitoring agent will maintain communication between you and the fire department.

Get Your Monitored Fire Alarms From Secure24 Alarm Systems

The chance of house fires in Oakland should never be underestimated, but you can rest easier if you use a monitored fire alarm on hand. Contact Secure24 Alarm Systems, and we’ll help you get all the safety alarms you need with a state-of-the-art home security system. Call (510) 295-0552 or submit the form below to begin.