How to Prevent Attic Fires

9/15/2019 (Permalink)

Attic Fire

Did you know that more than 40% of attic fires are the result of electrical malfunctions?

So how do we help prevent an attic fire? Here are three things firefighters suggest you hire a professional to do:

1. Have your chimney inspected by a professional who will check the interior and exterior of the chimney, including the part running through the attic
2. Check the wiring in your attic, preferably by an electrician, looking for signs of damage, cracked insulation (wire sheathing), and exposed or disconnected wires
3. Look for signs of burning and charring in the insulation and wood

A common mistake is that everybody typically plugs in their space heaters to help supplement their heat. And then, they'll put them on a long extension cord so that they are able to reach areas with less heat. So, the longer the extension cord is, the more amperage it will draw on the circuit.

Another common fire hazard is when homeowners choose incandescent light bulbs in ceiling fixtures that is a higher voltage than required is also a fire hazard. That heat that is trapped within the light fixture goes straight up into the attic and in the wires and essentially cook the wires, starting a fire.