Preventing Garage Fires

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

Thousands of garage fires occur every year across the country, putting homes at a greater risk of catching fire, especially if the garage is attached to the home. Considering their frequency, it is important to identify the causes of garage fires as well as how to prevent them from igniting in order to protect your home from damage.

Electrical complications such as faulty circuits and overloaded outlets can cause sparks to fly, which can ignite combustible items that may be located nearby. To decrease the chances of this happening, have an electrician investigate the condition of your garage’s wiring. Also, be sure to refrain from using extension cords to power electrical appliances in the garage by instead solely utilizing wall outlets.

It may be helpful to store unwanted items in the garage, however, clutter sitting idly in garages increases the chances of a large fire igniting, as the clutter allows fires to spread quickly and easily. To combat this issue, declutter your garage on a regular basis.

Commonly found in garages, flammable liquids including gasoline, paint, paint thinner, and oil can spark when making physical contact with a flame or when fumes coming off of the liquid reach a flame. Instead of housing these flammable liquids in your garage, opt to store them in sheds of someplace distant from your home.

Alongside flammable liquids, propane tanks used for outdoor grills may also reside in your garage whenever they are not in use. There is a chance that the tanks may not be stored or sealed correctly, so keeping them in an outdoor area that is dry and ventilated would be a much safer storage practice.

Although these tips will help to decrease the probability of a fire igniting in your garage, there is always a chance that a fire will start. Therefore, it is imperative that you keep a fire extinguisher either in your home or in the garage that can be accessed quickly in the event of an emergency. Installing a heat alarm in your garage may also be beneficial in catching a fire before or as soon as it starts.