When you think of fires in the home, you tend to think of electrical or kitchen fires, however there could be a less obvious risk sitting in plain sight.
Although electrical equipment, candles and cooking equipment are still the main reasons for household fires1, emergency services are seeing a rising trend of fires occurring due to reflective glass and mirrors, particularly with magnifying mirrors.
According to the Fire and Rescue service, these types of fires tend to start in January (when the sun is at it’s closest to Earth) and continue to spike through to March2. It is important to note however, that this type of fire could occur at any point in the year.
You may ask yourself; how can a small mirror start set something alight? Fires caused by the reflection/magnification of glass typically occur when glass items are left on window sills (particularly in the bathroom) or are facing the sun and ignite nearby ‘combustible items’.
Examples of household glass items:
* Mirrors, magnifying mirrors in particular
* Glass ornaments including paper weights
* Jewellery and stones
Examples of household combustible items:
* Aerosols, deodorant and other flammable materials
* Cloths
* Oil
* Paper, wood
Even though household fires occurring this way are not fatal, it is still a stressful time and many personal items can be lost. As we know, prevention is the best cure. Here are some top fire safety tips to stop the worst from happening:
* Keep mirrors out of direct sunlight
* Never place glass paperweights/ornaments in direct sun or on window sills
* Ensure vanity, reflective or shaving mirrors are put away and not left on sills
* Ensure you have a smoke alarm on every level of your home and that they work
If the worst does occur, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are covered. While most Home Insurance policies do account for fire damage, the amount that will be covered is judged by your individual policy. At The Insurance Centre we can talk you through everything you need to know so you know exactly what is and what isn’t covered. Just get in touch on 01524 848506.
Download this article as a PDF here.
1 Reduce your risk of having a fire at home (dsfire.gov.uk)
2 Fire Service warning after two fires started by sunlight reflecting off mirrors | Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (merseyfire.gov.uk)
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