Fire Damage Is a Threat Year-Round, and SERVPRO of Oak Lawn is Here 24/7/365

9/2/2022 (Permalink)

While hotter summer temperatures increase fire damage risk in Oak Lawn homes relative to the other seasons, plenty can still go wrong around the home that might lead to a fire, even in the deepest winter months. With enough fuel and oxygen, fires can burn even in the coldest conditions, and even when the air is relatively humid. Here are a few typical ways fires may start in local homes this winter and early spring season.

Electrical Fires
 
In the 21st century, one of the most prominent sources of home damage is fire damage in Oak Lawn from electrical mishaps. As our homes fill with ever-increasing numbers of gadgets, devices, and appliances, more and more electrical fires occur each year. Although newer electronics are usually safer and less fire-prone than older devices, the sheer number of them present in most modern households means that disaster of some sort can often be an inevitability. Water cannot often extinguish an electrical fire, and many electrical fires are in fact caused by contact with a water source. Always use a chemical or foam-based fire extinguisher in these emergencies.

Cooking Disasters
 
American kitchens remain the most consistent points of origin of large house fires across the country. In the typical kitchen, setting can be found multiple heating appliances, electronic devices, and sources of an open flame. Any of these can be prone to malfunction or user error and start a fire. Be sure to equip your kitchen with at least one well-placed smoke detector and check its batteries on a semi-regular basis.
 
Fireplaces
 
It is cold outside, and those with a hearth may be inclined to use it in the earliest and latest months of the year. While fireplaces can be a great addition to the room and source of extra warmth, they also carry a great deal of risk with them. Always treat a fireplace with caution, and consider adding a barrier of some sort in front of its flame for added safety.

SERVPRO of Oak Lawn is ready 24/7 to respond to calls of fire damage in the area.  Contact us (708) 239-1444.