Fire Risks in Apartments

The majority of all fires in the United States occur in homes, since homes are not usually equipped with the same types of fire prevention and extinguishing equipment as are larger buildings. However, the fire risks in apartment buildings, which are often larger than individual houses, are also high. Anyone who lives in an apartment should be aware of unique fire risks of these dwellings and take steps to prevent them.

Apartment Fires

In apartments, there exist certain hazards that do not exist in single-family or individual homes. The leading causes of fires in apartments include:

• Kitchen and cooking accidents
• Malfunctioning heaters or heating equipment
• Cigarettes that were not properly extinguished
• Children playing with matches, cigarette lighters, candles, or other sources of fire
• Arson and intentionally set fires

People who live in apartments should be aware of these unique risks and take steps to protect their own safety as well as that of everyone else in the building. Additionally, apartment dwellers and their families should understand to never take the elevator during a fire and should always heed the fire alarm.

Fires in residences often cause fatal injuries because they often occur at night, when residents are asleep. A sleeping person may not wake to the sound of an alarm, or may become poisoned with hazardous smoke and gasses before waking. Even if people do wake during a fire, they are not always able to navigate out of the building.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been injured in a fire, the fire and explosion lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ® can help. To learn more, contact our offices today by calling 800-242-2874.