---
title: The 4 Leading Causes of House Fires
description: Your loved ones and your community count on you to be experts in fire safety. Passing on your knowledge can be the key to saving a life.
---

[Fire-Dex Blog](https://blog.firedex.com/blog)

# [The 4 Leading Causes of House Fires](https://blog.firedex.com/blog/4-leading-causes-house-fires-2020-firefighting)

 Written by [Fire-Dex](https://blog.firedex.com/blog/author/fire-dex) | Oct 5, 2020 1:40:26 PM

Your loved ones and your community count on you to be experts in fire safety. Passing on your knowledge can be the key to saving a life.

Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports an estimated average of [354,000 U.S. house fires. These fires result in 2,620 civilian deaths; 11,220 civilian fire injuries; and $6.9 billion in property damage.](https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Building-and-Life-Safety/Home-Structure-Fires)

Here are the four leading causes you can share with your family and friends, along with prevention tips.

##### **1. Cooking Ranges**

According to the NFPA, cooking is the number one leading cause of home fires with 173,200 incidences a year. Also, households with electric stove-tops are more susceptible to fires than gas ranges. The contributing factor to ignition is placing items too close to the burners. 

***Prevention Tips: ***

- Do not leave cooking mitts, rags, or loose items on the stove-top
- Clean the stove-top after each use
- Do not wear loose clothing and roll back your sleeves while cooking
- Check any lights indicating that the oven or stove-top is still on
- Completely power off the cooking range after use 
- Teach children not to play with stove knobs or climb on counters and stoves
- Use child proof stove covers for young children

### **2. Portable Heaters**

We understand that during the winter season it can be hard to stay warm. But, it is easy to spark a fire by wrongly placing a heater. [86% of home fire deaths involve stationary or portable space heaters](https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/US-Fire-Problem/Heating-equipment). This small but powerful equipment draws a lot of electricity from an outlet. An old extension cord may not handle the large amount of electricity passing through it. 

***Prevention Tips:***

- Opt for portable heaters with safety features like tip over protection
- Keep the heater 3 feet away from furniture
- Do not plug the heater into an extension cord
- Do not cover the heater 
- Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet
- Turn off the heater and unplug after each use

### **3. Electrical Distribution**

Plugging cables into electrical outlets accounts for [6.3% of residential fires](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v19i8.pdf). Electrical fires in a one and two-family home takes the lead in this category by 83%. Additionally, the incidences spike during the winter month of January. Typically, electrical failure or malfunction is the main cause of ignition. 

***Prevention Tips:***

- Check to make sure the cable is not frayed
- Remove any cables from under the carpeting 
- Never force a cable into an outlet 
- Inspect loose outlets for any needed repairs
- Do not nail or staple cables to the wall 
- Avoid overloading outlets with too many cables

### **4. Smoking Materials**

[One in 20 home fires](https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/US-Fire-Problem/Smoking-Materials) starts due to smoking materials. The leading point of origin that the fires begin is on a balcony or enclosed porch. Also, the [majority of fatal victims](https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Public-Education/Resources/Safety-tip-sheets/SmokingSafety.pdf) are under 15 years old.

***Prevention Tips:***

- Keep lighters, matches, and cigarettes out of reach of children
- Use a deep ashtray 
- Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as dried grass 
- Douse butts and ashes in water before discarding 
- Never leave [charging e-cigarettes](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/vaping-devices-electronic-cigarettes) unattended 

Each of these home fires is preventable. Share these easy prevention tips to keep you and your family safe. [Learn more about home fire safety and guidance here](https://blog.firedex.com/blog/2018/10/19/home-fire-safety-advice-and-guidance).

[View full post](https://blog.firedex.com/blog/4-leading-causes-house-fires-2020-firefighting)

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