Electrical Malfunction
The single most common cause of residential attic fires is electrical malfunction. When circuits are overloaded and the breaker fails to respond appropriately, the excess “draw” could result in a fire.
Heating
Roughly 5% of residential attic fires are caused by home heating systems.
If your home is run on a traditional heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system, it’s a good idea to have it inspected at least once a year.
Natural
An estimated 13% of residential attic fires are caused by natural sources. This may include lighting, fallen trees or even rain water dripping onto electrical outlets and wires.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely protect your attic against natural fires such as this. However, you can ensure the roofing is intact and use fire-retardant materials to decrease the chance of natural-cause fires.