Texas Fire Claims Increase

Unattended cooking is the number one most preventable cause of house fires in Texas, according to a survey of 50 fire departments across the state.

The study, conducted by Allstate Insurance Company, asked Texas fire chiefs and marshals for the most common everyday activities leading to house fires and simple steps people can do to make their homes more fire-safe.

According to the survey, the top three home fire-starters in Texas are:

1. Leaving cooking food and burning candles unattended
2. Overloading electrical outlets and misusing extension cords
3. Discarding cigarettes improperly

The Allstate survey also revealed incorrect light bulb wattage in lamps, dirty lint filters in dryers and keeping matches and lighters in reach of children as forgotten fire dangers.

The number of Allstate insured Texas homes damaged by non-weather related fires have jumped 7 percent so far this year when compared with the same period last year. Daylight-saving time ends this weekend. The state's second largest homeowner insurer is asking consumers to think safety when setting back clocks and changing smoke detector batteries Saturday night.

According to the survey, stoves, candles and space heaters are household items that are the most common sources of fires. The study also found fires most frequently start in the kitchen followed by the bedroom.