Pest Fire Hazards. When you think of fire hazards, there are probably some things that immediately come to mind. Perhaps you think of someone falling asleep with a lit cigarette, children playing with matches, or a toaster oven going up in flames. Yes, all these can cause a fire in your home, but they are only the beginning. Your house can catch fire because of a furnace or chimney, flammable liquids that were stored improperly, overloaded power strips, lightning strikes, old wiring, fireworks, arsonists, pests – What? Wait a minute. How on earth can pests cause fire hazards?
Birds and rodents prefer to build nests in and on buildings. They look for small chimneys, vents, voids, and other comfy spaces. They may also try to find flammable items such as bits of fabric, dead grass, dried leaves, and feathers to create their nests. Any time their nests are blocking a vent could generate a spark. Then the fire could occur.
Another example of pest fire hazards is a sparrow that ruined most houses while smoking in bed. Fire investigators discovered a sparrow nest in the attic, which contained seven cigarette butts. The birds gather the soft material inside cigarette filters for making a nest. The investigators concluded that the sparrow brought back one last cigarette, which was still smouldering, and added to its nest. Some other fires arise when birds construct nests on top of outside building floodlights. The hot lights fire up the nest, which in turn ignites the leaves and roof.
Mice, particularly one of the most potential pests, cause fire hazards. They prefer to nest in vehicles, beneath the hood, and in other protected places. In one case, a car ignited following the heater ignited mouse nests underneath the dashboard. Flaming nests aren’t the sole fire hazard with rodents. Rodents also love to gnaw on stuff, such as electrical cables and wires. The gnawing can result in a short circuit and sparking, which may start a fire.
Steam ‘n’ Dry Pest Control Auckland Services have provided bed bug, pest control, ant, cockroach, flea, fly, carpet beetle, wasp, spider, dust mite and rodent control service since 1987, throughout West Auckland, North Shore, Eastern Bays, South Auckland and Hibiscus Coast.
Indeed, various pests can worsen reactions with people having respiratory issues. It is a trigger of allergic conditions that can happen frequently. Pest droppings like roach’s release a protein that usually causes asthma attacks, joint from pest infestations. They can also carry potential bacterial and viral pathogens that you never know. Thus, calling the best Pest Control Auckland Services since 1987 would be wise!
Experienced, researched and written by Graeme Stephens. An IICRC Master Restoration Technician in 2001. With over 34 years of disinfecting, cleaning and pest control Auckland service experience.
Published: 5/11/2014 Updated: 18/10/2021