Photo: Mike B

What causes most garage fires?

Electrical malfunction is the leading cause of garage fires. These fires can start because of shorts in wires, damaged wires, and overloading electrical outlets.

usfa.fema.gov - Home Garage and Basement Fire Safety Outreach Materials

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Here's how you know

An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Here's how you know A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Garage fires can spread farther and cause more injuries and dollar loss than fires that start in other areas of your home. Share these home garage and basement fire safety materials with your community. Download these free handouts on preventing home garage and basement fires to reproduce and distribute in your community. A space is provided for you to easily include your organization's logo.

Facts about garage fires

Every year, there are 6,600 garage fires in homes that result in an average of:

30 deaths.

400 injuries.

$457 million in property loss.

Of these fires, 93 percent occurred in 1- and 2-family homes.

Electrical malfunction is the leading cause of garage fires. These fires can start because of shorts in wires, damaged wires, and overloading electrical outlets.

Fire safety messages

Remind residents to follow these prevention tips to keep homes safe from garage fires. Store oil, gasoline, paints, propane and varnishes in a shed away from your home.

Keep items that can burn on shelves away from appliances.

Plug only one charging appliance into an outlet.

Don’t use an extension cord when charging an appliance.

Install:

A 20-minute fire-rated door that is self-closing and self-latching from the garage into the house. A ceiling made with ⅝-inch Type X gypsum board (or the equivalent) if you have living space above the garage. A wall with ½-inch gypsum board (or the equivalent) if the wall attaches the garage to your home.

An attic hatch cover if you have attic access from the garage.

A heat alarm — not a smoke alarm — in your garage. The heat alarm will sound if the temperature rises too high.

Social media images to share

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Information to share about heat alarms

Heat alarms (detectors) respond to fire, not smoke. They are another useful part of any home fire safety plan. Smoke alarms in garages can sound because of a change in temperature and humidity, as well as dust, fumes and insects. Heat alarms are made to not be affected by these conditions. Smoke alarms are not required, or designed for use, in garages. Many heat alarm models can be connected to a home’s fire detection system so that if the heat alarm sounds, the smoke alarms will as well.

Tips for buying and installing heat alarms:

Purchase a heat alarm that is:

Hard-wired with a battery backup.

Capable of interconnecting with your home’s smoke alarms.

Rated for temperatures between 175-250 degrees Fahrenheit. Alarms with lower temperature ratings may sound because temperatures in garages rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Alarms with higher temperature ratings may sound too late to warn you of a fire.

Have your hard-wired heat alarm installed by a qualified electrician.

Don’t install heat alarms near fluorescent lights. Electrical noise and flickering from the lights may affect the alarm’s operation.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

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