How Can Lightning Start a House Fire?

8/23/2022 (Permalink)

Purchase high quality surge protectors for your house.

Summer is the season of barbecues, swimming pools, and thunderstorms in Westlake Hills, TX. Every year, these storms are responsible for lighting fire to countless acres of land and residential structures. 
Annually, thousands of people are injured in a house fire caused by a severe storm; property damage runs into hundreds of millions.

How Lightning Can Damage Your Home

During a severe weather event, your home is vulnerable to electricity: 

• Surging through wiring
  
• Striking trees nearby
  
• Downing electrical wires
  
• Lighting fire to your roof or attic
  
  

How To Protect Your Property 
Much of the costly damage is due to “transients.” These are high-voltage impulses that travel through your home’s wiring. 
Transients are not usually capable of lighting fire to your appliances, but the voltage from transients can destroy computers, televisions, large appliances and even smoke detectors.

Surge Protectors
The best protection against transient damage is to purchase high quality surge protectors for your whole house. Be sure to select products that are UL certified.

Insurance
Check your homeowner’s policy to confirm that you have coverage for damage from electrical storms; not all policies will cover your electrical appliances for surge damage.

How To Protect Yourself During a Storm
Have a plan for your family to evacuate your home in this type of emergency.
A direct electrical strike most often results in lighting fire to your roof or attic. If you see flame or smell smoke, evacuate the building and dial 9-1-1.
Downed trees can also damage your home or car. Give large trees a wide berth during severe storms. Avoid any contact with electrical wires. Always treat them as though they are live; they often are.
Your local fire restoration experts can help in the event that your home sustains damage during a storm, but prevention and awareness can make your home and family much less susceptible to harm.