The Fire Hazard Hiding in Your Storage Space
Most homeowners think of their attic as free storage space, but what they don’t realize is that they may be creating a massive fire hazard directly above their bedrooms. The combination of heat, poor ventilation, and flammable materials makes many attics potential infernos waiting for ignition.
Steve Patterson learned this lesson when firefighters responding to a neighboring house fire told him that his attic was a “death trap waiting to happen.” Years of storing Christmas decorations, old clothes, paint cans, and household chemicals had turned his attic into a fire hazard that violated multiple safety codes.
“I never thought about it,” Steve admits. “I figured the attic was just empty space, so why not use it? The fire chief showed me how all those stored materials, combined with the heat that builds up there in summer, created perfect conditions for a fire that would be almost impossible to stop.” The temperature in Steve’s attic regularly exceeded 140 degrees Fahrenheit in summer—hot enough to cause certain chemicals and materials to spontaneously combust.
Paint cans, solvents, and cleaning supplies are particularly dangerous when stored in hot attics. These materials can build pressure as temperatures rise, potentially causing containers to rupture and release flammable vapors. Old newspapers, cardboard boxes, and fabric items act as kindling that can help fires spread rapidly once they start.
But even seemingly innocent storage items can become fire hazards. Holiday decorations, old clothing, and photo albums all burn readily and can help fires spread throughout the attic space. Once a fire gains hold in an attic, it’s extremely difficult to fight because of limited access and the fact that it’s directly above where people sleep.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends keeping attics clear of storage whenever possible, or at minimum, storing only non-flammable items in sealed, fire-resistant containers. Yet surveys show that more than 80% of homeowners use their attics for storage, often without considering the fire risks they’re creating.