Fire in industrial, industrial or public facilities in most cases occurs as a result of a gross violation of safety rules. However, in domestic conditions the requirements for ensuring fire safety are less stringent, which is why precisely such fires are considered the most common. The fact is that the causes of a fire in everyday life are not always caused by violations of the technical rules for the operation of equipment, although this category of fires is not uncommon. As a rule, fires in domestic conditions are caused by accidents and the human factor, which, however, does not cancel the responsibility of the perpetrators.
What is the peculiarity of a domestic fire?
There are three types of fires - industrial, natural (forest) and domestic. In terms of threats to material property and human lives, domestic fires are generally less dangerous. Nevertheless, their prevalence makes responsible authorities regularly increase the effectiveness of preventive measures. So, what characterizes the causes of a fire in everyday life and what distinguishes them? First of all, this is the place of origin. Such fires usually occur in residential buildings or cultural and public buildings. Accordingly, the culprits of domestic fires are often not employees or workers, but visitors, residents, passers-by and children. The only thing that unites this group of fires with others is technical malfunctions in equipment or electrical appliances that can act as fire sources. Now you can take a closer look at what exactly can cause a fire.
10 causes of fires in everyday life
It is difficult to draw a strict distinction between individual points, however, such a list will allow you to become more familiar with the main factors that lead to household fire:
- Children's pranks.
- Unlit Cigarette.
- Violations in the installation or operation of electrical equipment.
- The use of appliances that do not have adaptation to the mains.
- Damage to the wiring or improper installation.
- Violations in the operation of heating equipment.
- Use of flammable tools for repair or construction purposes.
- Improper handling of chemicals.
- Violations in the use of pyrotechnic means.
- Making bonfires in basements and attics.
Each of the identified causes has its own accident statistics, which, obviously, may differ from the number of fires that occurred due to other factors. Therefore, the most common causes of household fires should be highlighted, the knowledge of which will increase the chances of preventing such fires in the future.
Fire hazard
This category of violations includes smoking in the apartment and children's games with fire. Oddly enough, these obvious causes of fires remain relevant to this day. Unfortunately, they are also the most dangerous in terms of consequences. For example, a drunk person who loses control while smoking is at risk of unintentionally setting fire to an apartment. Not so rare are the causes of a fire in everyday life due to the fault of children who, without supervision from adults, play with matches. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the kids are not able to take appropriate measures to extinguish the fire - especially in the case of intense ignition. These factors require special attention and for the reason that they are the most dangerous for human life.
Violations in the installation and operation of devices
Such reasons are not so dangerous compared to the first group and in most cases, fortunately, only lead to damage to technology. Despite this, in the absence of timely measures to combat fire, the consequences can be much worse. At the same time, violations in the installation and use of electrical equipment should be considered as the most common causes of household fires, together with careless handling of fire. In practice, this may be a violation in connecting electrical appliances, including ovens and washing machines that need grounding. In terms of operational disruptions, the range of potentially dangerous appliances is even wider and includes televisions, irons, vacuum cleaners, food processors, etc.
Violations in the operation of furnace heating
This is a separate and rather specific group of safety violations, which also carries a fire hazard. Especially in apartments and private houses, remote from the central highways of water and gas supply, the main causes of a fire in everyday life are usually associated with individual heating sources, including stove equipment. This, in particular, can be fireplaces, the so-called potbelly stoves, gas stoves and radiators. For ignition, coal that has fallen from the combustion chamber to the floor is enough. Gas appliances do pose a danger of explosion, as a result of which there is a risk of not only fire, but also human casualties. But most often, such fires occur due to unattended devices that operate with a high load on the network. The situation is also overshadowed by the fact that fire hoses in such apartments are a rarity, so you often have to forget about an effective and timely fight.
Bonfire
It would seem that when making bonfires it is necessary to provide for the possibility of "spreading" of fire in the surrounding area and take appropriate precautions. If we recall what the most common causes of fires in everyday life occur due to external random factors, then a fire in strong winds can come to one of the first places. The danger increases in the fall, when dry and warm weather is added to the wind. However, bonfires in the rooms have a certain distribution. Their rarity is compensated by an order of magnitude for the increasing danger of fire. The mentioned attics and basements can become a place of active, and sometimes unimpeded spread of flame.
Other causes of fires
It is the common causes of household fires that receive the most attention in safety instructions and rules , but there are other sources of ignition that you should also be aware of. For example, in the repair process, not many people think about how safe finishing materials can be. At the same time, if finely dispersed painting is used using an airbrush, there is a risk of short circuiting. Moreover, nitro-based coatings are themselves flammable.
Another danger can wait, it would seem, from the most harmless side. During the holidays, decorating the room with various garlands, lanterns and flammable decorations, you should be prepared for a fire. Any careless handling of matches, a lighter or a very hot surface may cause ignition. Of course, these are not the main causes of a fire in everyday life, but a certain percentage of accidents are connected precisely with similar situations.
How to act in case of fire?
If it was not possible to prevent the danger and the fire started, appropriate measures should be taken immediately to save people or, if possible, eliminate the fire. First of all, you must turn off the electrical appliance, which could cause a fire. If this could not be done, then you should turn off the power to the entire apartment in the shield. Since the causes of a fire in everyday life may not be related to technology, the procedure may be different. In any case, the first attempts to extinguish the fire should be made in the form of covering the fire source with a dense non-synthetic cloth. This method will protect the flame from oxygen, due to which combustion occurs. Along with this, it is necessary to make a call to the fire department, indicating the exact location data and other information that may be required by the operator. After that, if attempts to combat the fire have failed, then people should be taken out of the room and left the apartment.
Conclusion
As practice shows, competently coordinated first actions in case of fire allow, if not to prevent its further development, then significantly minimize risks. Whatever the causes of a fire in everyday life, it is easy to identify them in the first minutes of fire. For example, by the characteristic smell of burning in the stairwell, we can conclude about the fire. The place of ignition may turn out to be not only an apartment, but also a mailbox, a garbage container, wiring, etc. It is necessary to detect the source of fire as soon as possible and try to eliminate it with improvised means. If there is no way to do it yourself, then it will not be superfluous to turn to neighbors for help. The most difficult situations are associated with fires in closed apartments where people can be. In this case, it is necessary to break the door, and then help people. There are many other nuances that should be taken into account when fighting a domestic fire, but it is best to minimize all fire risks initially.