Attic Fire Hazards

Check for openings around the attic door attic vents roof joists rafters and attic floor joists.

Attic fire hazards.

When circuits are overloaded and the breaker fails to respond appropriately the excess draw could result in a fire. Plastic fan parts may pose a fire hazard. You cannot always protect your house or attic from all natural sources. A clothes dryer should not vent inside your home or attic.

The exhaust contains too much humid air and can cause problems with mold and mildew. Make sure the vents are cleaned out and it is working as it should. Natural sources that can be potential fire hazards may include fallen trees lightning or snow or rain dripping onto electrical outlets or wires. The majority of these fires are caused by electrical malfunction created by faulty wires and ignition sources and natural causes such as lightning which we reported last summer.

If your home attic houses a water heater or furnace be sure you have adequate venting. Lack of ventilation may create ideal conditions for an attic fire. Frayed or torn wiring could cause an attic fire. Mice rats bats or a squirrel in an attic can be a very dangerous hazard since these critters often harbor diseases and can damage the structure or attic wiring causing serious fire hazards.

These attic fires are very challenging for the fire service to mitigate and have led to line of duty deaths and injuries. A ventless dryer should be used if outside venting is not possible. Cooking fires cause 23 percent of home fires and nine percent of deaths. Reduce fire hazards by installing the dryer correctly.

The fema document previously mentioned states that a whopping 43 of all residential attic fires are caused by electrical malfunction. The us fire administration estimates 10 000 residential building attic fires are reported to u s. The grease in an unattended frying pan catches on fire and ignites nearby combustibles which in turn ignite curtains cabinets or anything else in the vicinity. The single most common cause of residential attic fires is electrical malfunction.

A towel or curtains hanging too close to an unattended stove can ignite. If too much lint or other debris builds up in the ductwork the heat and friction could start a fire as well. Even so your home s heating ventilation and cooling hvac unit might cause an attic fire. Another possible cause of an attic fire is out of your control.