The Most Common Cause Of House Fires Explained In Texas

Published on February 05th, 2025

The leading cause of house fires, identified between 2016 and 2020 by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is unattended cooking, responsible for over 49% of home fires and 41% of fire injuries.

These cooking-related incidents not only dominate fire department responses nationwide but also rank as the top source of fire-related injuries in homes.

Being aware of the other most common causes — like electrical issues, unattended cooking, smoking materials, and faulty heating equipment — is important.

This guide is intended to equip homeowners, renters, and investors with the essential knowledge to prevent fires for purposes of both personal safety and protecting their investments.

The most frequent causes of house fires are related to cooking, heating equipment, faulty electrical systems and equipment, candles, smoking, and seasonal/holiday events. 

On top of knowing the latest house fire statistics, understanding the patterns behind these causes will allow homeowners to better focus their prevention efforts and take appropriate safety measures.

Cooking-Related Fires

Cooking-related fires are the leading cause of home fires and injuries — as indicated in the same 2016–2020 report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) above.

Accounting for 49% of home fires and 41% of fire injuries, these incidents also contribute significantly to home fire deaths.

While a center for family gatherings and delicious meals, the kitchen can quickly become a hazard zone if caution is not exercised.

Risks of Unattended Cooking

Unattended cooking poses several significant dangers, not only to your food but also to your entire home and its occupants.

With kitchen fires constituting about half of all residential fires annually, it remains important to stay vigilant while in the kitchen.

These house fire risks are usually due to the following:

• Forgotten food: These dishes can burn and ignite, easily escalating into a fire.
• Flammable materials nearby: Towels, paper products, food packaging, and other flammable materials can catch fire from heat or flames.
• Time underestimation: A small flame can grow into a larger fire in just 30 seconds, so remember to put out flames promptly.
• Unattended children or pets: Children playing or pets could access the stove and get injured.
• Unmonitored oven: Leaving the oven without oversight can cause food to overcook and potentially catch fire.
• Overheated oils: Can ignite, leading to a dangerous and difficult-to-control grease fire.

Dangers of Grease Fires

Grease fires pose significant risks because water exacerbates the flames, spreading the fire further.

The safest responses include turning off the heat, smothering the fire with a metal lid, or using baking soda or salt to extinguish it.

For bigger outbreaks, use a class-B or class-K fire extinguisher, but be mindful of the cleanup. Class B is for flammable liquids, and class K is for kitchen fires with oils and fats.

In serious cases, calling the fire department is imperative, as water can make the situation worse by causing the grease to splatter and spread.

Fires from Heating Equipment

Space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves can all cause house fires.

The National Fire Protection Association found out that during winter — especially in December, January, and February — heating equipment is the main cause of house fires in the U.S., with the majority of blazes occurring in January.

Each year, about 48,530 fires happen because of heating problems, causing a lot of damage and injuries.

Note that space heaters cause most of these fires.

Hazards of Space Heaters

While they're a handy source of warmth, space heaters can become significant fire hazards if not used carefully.

Most fires caused by these heaters occur when flammable materials like paper, clothing, and curtains come too close or directly contact the heater.

To prevent such dangers, it's crucial to keep combustible materials away from heat sources and never leave them unattended.

Regularly inspect space heaters for overheating components and immediately turn them off if you detect overheating.

Consider those with automatic shut-off safety features and turn them off before leaving the room.

Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Risks

Fireplaces and wood stoves can be dangerous if not cleaned or used correctly. Most fires happen because they're not cleaned, leading to creosote buildup from chimney fires.

The United States Fire Administration notes that wood stoves alone cause over 4,000 residential fires annually, with 87% of heating fires being confined to chimneys, flues, or fuel burners.

To be safe, clean your chimney every year and use a screen for your fireplace to stop sparks.

Also, ensure heaters have ample open space around them (at least three feet away) and check for any signs of overheating, like hot plugs or outlets.

Electrical Systems and Equipment Fires

Every year, electrical fires lead to 500 deaths, more than 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) report. This shows how deadly electrical fires are.

They are dangerous because they can start in hidden spots and grow big before anyone notices, sometimes even occurring at night.

Electrical problems often come from old outlets, worn wires, or circuit overload.

Perils of Faulty Wiring

Faulty electrical wiring, overloaded circuits, and old or damaged electrical systems are significant risks for house fires.

Here are some safety guidelines to avoid dangers to your home's wiring:

• Regular Inspections: Have your electrical system checked regularly by a qualified electrician, especially in older homes.
• Watch for Warning Signs: Warning signs include circuit breaker trips, flickering lights, visibly damaged wiring, and a burning smell from outlets.
• Install AFCIs: Use Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters to prevent fires caused by electrical arcs, which occur when electrical shorts create intense sparks capable of igniting flammable materials.
• Surge Protection: Implement a two-tiered surge protection system to protect your home and appliances from power surges.
• Use Smart Sensors: Install smart sensors to detect and alert you to any potential fire hazard.
• Avoid Overloading Circuits: Ensure circuits are not overloaded to prevent overheating.

Threats of Overloaded Circuits

Using too many plugs can overheat wires and risk starting a house fire.

Overloading can damage devices and shorten their usable lifespan. Fortunately, properly wired homes should have fuses to help stop this excessive electricity.

To stay safe, don't use too many plugs in one outlet; use extension cords for a short time, and consider adding more outlets. Having a professional electrician check your wires can stop fires.

While electrical issues are a common fire hazard, non-electrical sources like candles can also pose risks.

Candles and Fire Risk

Candles are good sources of light, but leaving an open flame burning can lead to significant home fires if left unattended. These fires can quickly spread to furniture, curtains, and other items, leading to major property damage and risking lives.

To prevent your candles from starting fires, it's essential to follow specific safety guidelines.

Generally, candles should not be burned for more than four hours and allowed to cool for at least two hours before relighting. 

Always use long matches or a long-reach lighter, keeping hair and loose clothing away from flames. Also, trim the wick to ¼ inch for even burning and place the candle in a heat-resistant holder to catch droplets of wax.

TIP: Consider safer alternatives like battery-powered candles or flashlights.

Smoking-Related Fires

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2021, smoking caused 7,800 house fires, 275 deaths, and 750 home fire injuries — these fires resulted in around $361.5 million in damages.

One of the common causes of house fires is when a lit cigarette is not put out properly. The tiny cigarette embers can easily ignite furniture, curtains, and carpets.

If someone forgets about a lit cigarette or ends up falling asleep while smoking, it can start deadly fires. This is a reminder to not smoke indoors as much as possible.

Smoking inside not only pollutes the air but also exposes others to the dangers of fire and second-hand smoke. Never smoke if your home contains medical oxygen, since a lit cigarette can ignite an oxygen supply.

Seasonal and Holiday Fires

The holiday season brings a higher chance of house fires due to the increase in decorations, lights, and Christmas trees. Christmas trees, in particular, can catch fire easily if they dry out or are placed too close to heaters.

On top of candle-related fires this season, electrical decorations cause home fire risks to increase significantly around New Year's Day, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

Christmas Trees Fire Risks

Around 25% of Christmas tree fires happen because of electrical issues or because objects like lights, fireplaces, radiators, and candles are too close to the tree.

Also, about half of the fires from holiday decorations start when they're put too near a heat source.

Although Christmas tree fires represent a small fraction of home fires, they're notable due to the short time trees are displayed.

To prevent these fires, use a fresh, well-watered tree or a high-quality artificial one, ensure it's placed away from heat sources, check the light bulbs' wires for damaged cords, and always turn them off at night or when leaving the house.

Dangers of Holiday Decorations

Despite adding to the festive mood, holiday decorations can add to the list of objects that can burn and start fires. If not set up safely, they can increase fire risks.

To reduce fire hazards, it's important to keep decorations away from heat, turn off lights and decorations when not at home, and always extinguish any candles before leaving a room.

Also, choose decorations with safety features, like fire-resistant LED lights or automatic shut-off features.

Reducing the risk of house fires involves the following key practices:

Regularly checking appliances and electrical systems

• Safe cooking
• Proper heating equipment use
• Handling candles carefully
• Smoking precautions
• Following holiday fire safety tips

These steps are essential for preventing home fires and reducing their harmful impacts.

Importance of Regular Maintenance of Appliances and Electrical Systems

Regular maintenance of appliances and electrical systems is crucial for fire hazard prevention, as it helps prevent fires caused by electrical faults and malfunctioning appliances. 

Timely repairs or replacement of damaged wiring and components, along with routine electrical panel inspections, can prevent sparks and arcing that could lead to electrical fires.

By conducting regular checks and having their appliances and systems professionally inspected, homeowners can identify early signs of wear and tear or loose connections.

This proactive approach not only minimizes any electrical fire risk but also reduces downtime and prevents potential home fire deaths.

Adopting Safe Cooking Practices

The NFPA says cooking is the leading cause of home fire injuries and most home fires. It is also the second leading cause of home fire deaths.

Thanksgiving is the day with the highest occurrence of home-cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

Therefore, adopting safe cooking practices is key to preventing kitchen fires:

1. Monitor food closely when baking or roasting, using a timer as a reminder.
2. Avoid loose clothing that could catch fire near an open flame.
3. Keep flammable items, like food packaging and towels, away from the stovetop.
4. Do not put water on a grease fire; call the local fire department if needed.
5. Never leave cooking unattended, whether you are grilling, frying, or broiling food.
6. Use appropriate cookware and avoid distractions to prevent spills.
7. Use a timer to help remind you when cooking time is up and to turn off the heat.
8. Keep cooking appliances clean and in good working order.

Proper Use and Maintenance of Heating Equipment

This involves regular cleaning and inspection of heaters, furnaces, and chimneys to ensure they are working properly and are not blocked.

It's essential to have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected by a qualified electrician every year to prevent the buildup of flammable materials.

Keep flammable items like furniture, curtains, and clothing at least three feet away from anything that can burn.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and use, and never leave a space heater unattended.

If you have an electric blanket, use the lowest setting, don't bend the coils, and always turn it off after use.

Safe Use of Candles Guidelines

While candles add ambiance to any setting, they are responsible for 2% of home fires, contributing to 3% of fire deaths and 6% of injuries, with bedrooms being the most common starting point, according to the National Fire Protection Association. 

To mitigate risks, you should:

• Keep candles at least 12 inches away from flammable materials. 
• Extinguish candles before leaving a room or falling asleep.
• Use flashlights instead of candles during power outages.
• Never leave candles unattended. 
• Place candles on stable surfaces, away from any flammable items. 
• Keep lit candles 3 inches apart. 
• Put out a candle if its flame is too high or keeps flickering. 
• Only use candles in a room with good ventilation.

Smoking Safety Measures

Smoking without proper safety measures not only poses an immediate risk of igniting fires but also contributes to the buildup of harmful residues indoors. 

This residue can accumulate on walls, ceilings, and fabrics, deteriorating indoor air quality and increasing materials' flammability.

Here are some tips to ensure smoking safety:

• Make sure cigarette butts are completely out before you throw them away.
• Keep lighters, matches, and other smoking materials out of reach of children.
• Provide designated smoking areas outside and ensure proper disposal of smoking materials.
• Don't smoke in bed or near things that can catch fire easily.
• Avoid smoking indoors. Smoking indoors once is enough to contaminate the whole house.
• Avoid smoking in areas where medical oxygen is used. Cigarette embers can ignite a supply of medical oxygen.
• Use a strong ashtray and wet ashes, butts, or other smoking materials before throwing them out.
• Keep smoke alarms and fire extinguishers working with routine maintenance.

REMEMBER: Along with following smoking safety measures, it's important to know where to place smoke detectors in order to quickly detect fires caused by indoor smoking.

Seasonal and Holiday Fire Safety Tips

These tips can help to prevent home fires during the holidays. The use of electrical decorations, candles, heating equipment, and other home appliances increases during specific seasons, which all act as fire hazards.

To prevent seasonal and holiday fires, remember the following:

• Decorate carefully with lights and safe decorations.
• Keep candles and heaters in safe spots, far away from flammables.
• Opt for fresh Christmas trees over dry or plastic ones.
• Use LED lights, and don't overload extension cords.
• Turn off lights and decorations when not home.
• Secure decorations and never leave candles unattended.

Additionally, regular smoke alarm checks, practiced escape drills, and vigilance throughout the season ensure a warm and fire-free celebration.

Combustible liquids like gasoline and oil are major fire risks because they produce vapors that ignite quickly when heated to their flashpoint.

Knowing the risks of storing and handling them safely go together. It's very important to understand these dangers because storing and handling these materials improperly can cause serious home fires.

Risks of Storing Flammable Liquids

The biggest danger with combustible liquids, such as gasoline and paint thinners, is they can easily catch fire or explode. 

Volatile vapors can reach flashpoint temperatures or come into contact with open flames. Homeowners should also be wary of the unpredictable combustion of oily rags or chemicals.

The NFPA notes that chemical flames account for an estimated average of 14,000 fires annually, with a smaller but deadly portion occurring in residential areas.

These risks make the need for proper storage and handling to avoid unexpected and deadly fires apparent.

Safe Handling and Storage of Flammable Liquids

Safe handling and storing of combustible liquids is crucial to prevent fires and explosions. The following guidelines should be followed to ensure fire prevention and safety:

• Separate: Store them in a separate area or a designated bin/cabinet designed for them.
• Ventilate: Ensure you use or dispense these liquids in areas with good ventilation, and stay away from ignition sources. This will also help fumes disperse faster.
• Solid Containers: Keep containers closed when not in use; opt for safety containers with self-closing lids.
• Keep Discrete: Store in original containers, and do not mix with other chemicals.
• Away From Home: Store outside the home in cool, well-ventilated sheds or garages, away from heat.
• Don't Transfer Them: Use approved safety containers, preferably metal, and clearly label contents.
• Store Less: Minimize quantities stored to only what is immediately needed.
• No Smoking: Avoid smoking or open flames around combustible liquids.
• Use the Right Equipment: Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and safety glasses.

Proper Disposal: Dispose of these liquids properly at a local waste disposal facility; never pour them down drains or directly on the ground.

Find out more about the most common causes of house fires here.

What Is the Most Common Cause of House Fires?

The most common cause of house fires is unattended cooking, which accounted for over 49% of home fires and 41% of fire injuries from 2016 to 2020.

Other common causes of house fires include those related to heating equipment, electrical systems and equipment, candles, smoking, and seasonal or holiday decorations.

How Can I Prevent a House Fire?

To prevent house fires, abide by fire safety measures like the following:

• Regular maintenance of appliances
• Safe cooking
• Proper use of heating equipment
• Safe handling of candles
• Smoking precautions
• Select fire-safe holiday decorations
• Create and practice an escape plan
• Regularly check and maintain fire alarms and extinguishers
• Safely store and handle combustible liquids, lighters, and matches

How Often Should I Check My Fire Alarms?

Fire alarms should be tested monthly to ensure they are working correctly. They should be replaced every ten years or according to the manufacturer's recommendations to guarantee effectiveness.

What Appliances Are Most Likely to Cause a House Fire?

Space heaters, dryers, stoves, ovens, and microwaves are the appliances most likely to cause house fires due to overheating, faulty wires, or improper use.

What Are Some Safety Measures for Preventing Cooking Fires?

Some safety measures for preventing cooking fires include the following:

• Monitor your food closely as it cooks
• Keep flammable items away from the heat sources
• Use a timer to remind you of cooking times
• Always turn off the heat if you leave the kitchen

Most importantly, learn how to safely extinguish a grease fire using a metal lid or baking soda just in case.

The most common causes of house fires often start from unattended cooking, faulty heating devices, electrical issues, careless smoking, unsafe candle usage, and holiday decorations.

Homeowners can significantly mitigate the risk of devastating fires by:

• Staying vigilant in the kitchen
• Regularly inspecting and maintaining appliances and electrical systems
• Practicing safe smoking habits
• Being cautious with candles and holiday decorations

House fires are preventable, and by taking the right safety steps, we can protect our loved ones and homes from fire dangers.

Most importantly, seeking expert advice and calling emergency when necessary are essential steps in fire prevention.