House fires

[**Clem**]

After hearing another tragic story about how a child was killed by a fire at home, it made me wonder how these fires are started. I'm not blaming anyone at all - that's not what I'm getting at - but I couldn't see how anything in my home could cause a fire, other than my cooker. Am I being completely naive or stupid? How do these awful things happen, other than arson of course.
Again, I'm not blaming anyone and my heart goes out to people who have had this awful thing happen to them.
Clem x

[carrust]

I've got a mate who's a fireman, he says that most fires are caused by chip- pans,candles,washing machines & televisions. In a recent survey the results said that over 80% of fires are arson !

[raysparx1]

Hi Clem,

Lots of different things can cause a fire, old wiring is often a cause,especially when mice or rats have chewed through a cable then built a nest,also sadly a lot of stoves are left unattended with the grill or chip pan left on, also fires left unattended with clothing or inflammable material nearby, very sad thing to happen to anyone.

We had a call a couple of years ago to a council house,the mother had gone for a bath leaving her little girl downstairs
(wintertime) little girl thought her teddy was getting cold so she set a newspaper alight on the settee, luckily nobody was hurt, as we had just installed mains operated smoke alarms, Ray

[alijangra]

I went to work (12 hour shift) last week and when I got home I realised I had left my GHDs on. Could have been a catastrophe but luckily they werent near anything flammable. We are all human and not one of us is infallible.

[redcrx]

my bf is a fireman. he has the usual calls, chip pans, grills, microwaves, toasters
Last week he was called out to a fridge fire! Anything electrical can start a fire. Hes also been to a house where everything was destroyed, the culprit turned out to be wiring in the airing cupboard. byt the time the fire was noticed it had spread through wall and ceiling cavities.
Never assume that your house is safe, always ensure you have working smoke detectors in the house. Your local fire station can do home visits to advise on detectors as well as giving information on how to make an emergency escape plan.

[joko]

i heard once someone had a sort of ball shaped ornament on top of their tv, and the sun was streaming through the window on to it and acted like a magnifying glass, melted the top of the tv and set fire to the curtains. they vcould it in time, but only because they were in.

[Hapus]

My sister lives with the in-laws in a massive old farm house, and a stable-girl who stays over the summer holidays woke up at 7:30 with the bed on fire - she rescued my nephews who were in the room next to her, and everyone got out She only burnt her hands and leg. Apparently the wiring on the bedside lamp went.

[**Clem**]

My God - thanks all of you. SOme really surprising causes there.
Will definitely make a point to get things checked regularly.
Thanks again everyone : ) xxx