According to the National Fire Protection Association, most home fires are caused by cooking, heating, electrical distribution and lighting equipment, intentional fire setting, and smoking materials.

Grease fires are particularly prevalent in South Carolina. Some grease fires can be contained in the immediate area, but many quickly get out of control and can engulf the entire kitchen or home.

Fortunately, in most cases your South Carolina homeowners insurance will be there to help you get back on your feet by helping you pay for repairing your home, replacing damaged or destroyed possessions, and even helping you pay for temporary housing.

An independent insurance agent in South Carolina can help you get the coverage you need.

Are Kitchen Fires a Top Source of Home Fires?

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), over a five-year period, cooking was the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Grease fires are one of the main causes of kitchen fires.

One study named South Carolina as one of the top ten states for grease fires, especially around the holidays.

What Does Home Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Fire is one of the named “covered perils” that most homeowners insurance policies in South Carolina protect against. That means that damage caused by grease fires would be covered.

If you have a grease fire in your South Carolina home, you can expect your homeowners policy to offer the following types of coverage to help you repair and replace you damaged property:

• Dwelling coverage: The dwelling coverage in your policy pays to repair or replace your damaged home, and will even pay out the value of your home if it is a total loss.
• Personal property coverage: The personal property coverage, or contents coverage, in your South Carolina home insurance policy pays for damage to your insured personal property, such as furniture, clothing, artwork, and so on.
• Other structures coverage: Any detached structures located on your property (sheds, fences, detached garages) are also covered if the fire reaches them. Some policies may even pay for damage to trees and shrubs.
• Temporary living expenses coverage: Your policy will pay for additional living expenses if you are forced to live somewhere else while your home is being repaired. This coverage typically pays for hotel bills, food, and certain other living expenses (as long as they are in line with your current standard of living).

Once you’ve paid your policy’s deductible, your South Carolina homeowners insurance policy will reimburse you for the extent of the fire damage up to the total insured value of the dwelling itself and up to the personal property category’s coverage limit. Personal property deductibles are typically 1% of the home’s value. So if your home is worth $300,000, personal property damage might have to exceed $3,000 before insurance reimbursement kicks in.

What Doesn't Home Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Accidental grease fires would probably be covered by your South Carolina homeowners insurance; however, any intentionally set fire would not be covered.

There are other conditions in which a fire would not be covered under your homeowners insurance in South Carolina. If you have a fire in your home that is caused by one of the following, you’d be unlikely to have coverage:

Keep in mind that there are a few circumstances in which certain types of personal property are not covered under your homeowners insurance, even after a covered grease fire.  

A car parked in your garage would not be covered by your homeowners insurance if it was damaged or destroyed by a non-contained grease fire. But the car would be covered by the comprehensive coverage in your South Carolina auto insurance policy, if you selected that coverage when you purchased the policy.

This same exclusion applies to motorcycles and South Carolina boats that are stored in your garage. These, too, should have their own coverage that would apply to damage caused by a grease fire or any type of covered home fire.

How to Stop a Grease Fire in Your South Carolina Home

Grease fires are unlike other fires. Every homeowner in South Carolina needs to understand how to quickly and safely put out a grease fire so that it does not spread.

Tips to stop a grease fire

• Quickly turn off the heat. Don’t try to move the burning pan from the stove, as the grease could splash on you or other kitchen surfaces.
• Cut off oxygen to the fire by placing a lid on the pan. Always keep lids nearby when cooking with oil. Keep the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• If you have a grease fire in the oven, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
• Never pour water on a grease fire. Water can cause the grease to splash onto you or kitchen surfaces and spread the flames.
• Never fan a grease fire with a dry or wet cloth. This can also cause the grease to splash or fire to spread onto other surfaces.
• Never use flour on a grease fire. You can try to extinguish a very small grease fire with a handful of baking soda. But never use flour or baking powder. Both contain starch and could quickly spread the fire.
• Use your fire extinguisher as a last resort to avoid contaminating your kitchen with chemicals.

If a grease fire gets out of control, evacuate the home and call 911 immediately.

What To Do after a Fire in Your South Carolina Home

What you do in the immediate aftermath of the fire can determine how quickly and completely you’ll be able to recover. Here are some tips on what to do immediately after a fire in your South Carolina home.

• Check with the fire department to make sure your residence, or what’s left of it, is safe to enter. Structural damage can make it impossible for you to enter your home, while heat and smoke always need to settle before it’s safe to enter. Do not enter your home until you’ve been given the all-clear. Be sure that the fire department has inspected for safety or disconnected any utilities, as well. Never attempt to reconnect your utilities on your own.
• Once you are permitted to reenter your home, take precautions for your safety. Soot and filthy water left behind can be damaging to your health. Wear long pants and sleeves, appropriate work gloves, and rubber-soled shoes or boots. You may even want to wear safety goggles, a hard hat, or other safety equipment.
• Help your pets. Hopefully, your family and all of your pets have made it out unscathed. Comfort scared animals, and find someone trustworthy to watch them while you sort out the mess in your home.
• Contact a local disaster relief service, like the Red Cross, if you need help with temporary food, housing, or medicine.
• Conduct a thorough inventory of damaged property and items. This is very important to ensure that your insurance claim is accurate. Separate damaged property from undamaged property, and start a detailed list of what’s been lost. Your list should include as much information as possible about each item, including the brand name, the cost or purchase price, the model number, a description, and the receipt if you have it.
• If you can, locate valuable documents and records. 
• Save any receipts for your expenses related to the fire. These will be important for expediting your insurance claim and ensuring that you receive the reimbursement you are eligible for. 
• Inform your mortgage company about the fire and follow any relevant instructions.
• If you cannot stay in your home until repairs are made, board up missing windows and doors and secure the home to keep thieves or looters out. And inform the police department that your home will be vacant and vulnerable.

One of the first things you should do once the danger has passed is contact your insurance company or agent. Fortunately, home fires are typically covered under your South Carolina homeowners insurance policy. They’ll provide instructions on how to secure your property, how to conduct an inventory of damaged possessions, how to contact fire restoration services, and how to begin the claims process. Be sure to get any estimates in writing and follow the insurance company’s instructions so you are reimbursed appropriately.

How an Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

If you’re shopping for homeowners insurance in South Carolina, working with a local independent insurance agent is your best bet. Independent agents aren’t tied down to one insurance company. They can help you shop around for the best coverage at a price that fits your budget.

What’s more, your independent agent will get to know you and your family, and will be there for you at claim time. Your South Carolina independent insurance agent will guide you through the claims process and help you get your home repaired and your life back to normal as soon as possible.