Do you know where most home fires start?

If you guessed the kitchen, you’re right. One of the most popular rooms in the house also has the potential for danger.

But a few simple habits can help prevent damaging fires from ever starting in the first place.

To find a little more peace of mind this season, here are four ways to make your home safer.

1. Don’t walk away from an active stove. 

Unattended cooking is a leading cause of kitchen fires. If you need to leave while frying, grilling or broiling, make sure to turn your stove off first. It’s easy to lose track of time when you step away to answer the door or check on the kids, and it doesn’t take long for trouble to start.

2. Keep clutter under control.

It’s not uncommon for kitchen counters to get loaded up with stuff. Make it a priority to clear your kitchen countertops of anything flammable, such as wooden utensils, papers and dish towels,  especially around the stove.

3. Use space heaters, fireplaces and woodburning stoves safely.

If you use a space heater during colder months, consider replacing older models with one designed to turn off if it tips over. Position space heaters with a 3-foot distance from everything else and always turn them off before you leave the house or go to sleep.

If your home has a fireplace or wood-burning stove, have it inspected annually by a professional. Use a mesh screen to keep sparks inside the fireplace.

4. Practice candle safety.

As with a stove, a lit candle is an active fire that you shouldn’t leave unattended. Blow out candles before leaving a room and keep burning candles on level surfaces and away from flammable objects, young children and pets.

Have questions about your insurance coverage? Reach out and we’ll be happy to help.