Hidden fire hazards

When we think about things that might cause a house fire, our minds often jump to obvious suspects like faulty wiring, kitchen, and heating stove mishaps. However, there are numerous lesser-known culprits that can also create the devastation of a house fire. These easily overlooked causes can pose a serious threat to your home, loved ones, and those pets that trust you implicitly.

Dust and lint very rarely cross your mind because it’s an everyday thing that you don’t see much. When you are talking about your dryer, the exhaust is vented outside, and the lint trap is hidden until you clean it. You must clean out your lint trap after every load to be safe and clean your dryer vent monthly with brushes built specifically for them. Dust and lint also accumulate behind appliances you don’t move often, such as refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, and toolchests. When enough dust and lint build up in these hidden spaces, they become highly flammable. To reduce this risk, regular cleaning and maintenance are crucial.

We underestimate the danger of power strips. Plugging too many devices (called “overloading”) into one strip can cause overheating, as can covering the cord with blankets, coats, or rugs. Any time you overheat electrical cords you increase the potential of an electrical fire due to their loss of ability to shed heat. Consider using surge protectors for added safety, but the most important thing is to keep all cords uncovered and unkinked.

Used rags soaked in oils or solvents can spontaneously combust when left in a pile, especially linseed oil. A chemical reaction with oxygen produced enough heat to ignite the rags. Make sure that any oily rags in your home at disposed of in a metal container with a lid outside of the house.

Space heaters, fireplaces, and radiators can be fire hazards if flammable materials like curtains, clothing, or paper are placed too close to them. I know, I know; the fire department is always harping on this hazard so it isn’t really a “lesser known” cause … but the sad fact is that many people get cavalier over time because nothing happened before so they push their luck more and more. Maintaining a safe distance between heat sources and combustible materials is absolutely one of the most important home presentation skills you can have – and don’t hesitate to call your loved ones out when you visit their homes about it. A Christmas tree next to the woodstove is beautiful until it isn’t; and when it isn’t, it’s too late.

Fires can be caused by sunlight streaming through glass objects, such as bottles or glass ornaments placed in direct sunlight. The shape of the ornamental design can concentrate and magnify the sun's rays, leading to fires. Position glassware away from direct sunlight to prevent this risk. This is not talking about flat glass like window panes, stained glass, and glassware.

Batteries can leak or explode when stored improperly or if damaged. This has been happening a lot recently with Lithium-Ion batteries, which are frequently used in electronics today due to their ability to be flat and less bulky. Ensure that batteries are stored in a cool, dry place and replace any damaged ones promptly to prevent potential fires. When charging batteries, only charge them inside of rooms with smoke alarms and don’t leave it unattended for extended periods of time. There are numerous videos online of people’s phones, scooters, tablets, and laptops catching fire while charging.

Charcoal grills cause outdoor fires each year from the use of accelerants to ignite them, uncontrollable flames in non-gas grills, and leaving them unattended and having embers fall out and onto the grass or deck under it. Follow proper grilling safety guidelines and never leave a hot grill unattended.

On the topic of grills, never leave your cooking unattended. Whether a grill, kitchen cooktop, slow cooker, or a fryer, unattended cooking has been one of the top 3 leading causes of fire across the world for centuries and remains so today. Never leave your cooking alone. As the old song goes, “stand by your pan.”

Rodents chew through electrical wires, which can lead to short circuits and fires. Regularly inspect and seal potential entry points to keep these critters at bay. Another side effect of rodents is that they leave very flammable debris behind when they begin consuming things like cardboard and paper, eventually collecting enough debris to ignite from heat or refracted light.

Older appliances and aged wiring are more at-risk to electrical faults and malfunctions. Many house fires result from outdated electrical systems. Regularly inspect and upgrade your appliances and wiring as needed to reduce the risk of electrical fires. Hire an electrician when in doubt.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.