The United States has one of the highest fire death and injury rates in the world.
Fire -- in the form of flames and smoke -- is the second leading cause of accidental
death in the home.
More than 4,000 people die each year in home fires. Every year, there are more than
500,000 residential fires serious enough to be reported to fire departments. More
than 90 percent of residential fire deaths and injuries result from fires in one
and two family houses and apartments. Property losses exceed 4 billion dollars
annually, and the long term emotional damage to victims and their loved ones is
incalculable.
The use of supplemental room heaters, such as wood and coal burning stoves, kerosene
heaters, gas space heaters and electrical heaters, has decreased, along with the
number of residential fires.
Even though there has been a decrease in fires associated with supplemental heaters,
it is important to remember that about 120,000 residential fires still occur annually
with the use of these heaters, or about 22 percent of all residential fires. These
fires kill more than 600 people. Annually there are thousands of contact burn
injuries and hundreds of carbon monoxide poisonings.
Wood Stoves
Recommendations:
- Do not use wood burning stoves and fireplaces unless they are properly installed
and meet building codes.
- Follow the label instructions on the stove which recommends an inspection
twice monthly. Have chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney
sweep. Creosote is an unavoidable product of wood burning stoves. Creosote
builds up in chimney flues and can cause a chimney fire. To cut down on creosote
buildup, avoid smoldering fires.
- Use a code-specified or listed floor protector. It should extend 18 inches
beyond the stove on all sides. This will reduce the possibility of the floor
being ignited.
- Follow the instructions on the stove label for proper location of the stove
from combustible walls.
- Never burn trash in a stove because this could over heat the stove. Gasoline
and other flammable liquids should never be used to start wood stove fires.
Gasoline will ignite and explode. Use coal only if designated as appropriate
by the manufacturer.
Kerosene Heaters
Recommendations:
- Check with your local fire marshal regarding local and state codes and regulations
for using a kerosene heater.
- NEVER USE GASOLINE. Even small amounts of gasoline mixed with kerosene can
increase the risk of fire.
- Use properly labeled containers. It reduces the likelihood of mistaking
gasoline for kerosene.
- Place heater so it will not be knocked over or trap you in case of fire.
- Use l-K kerosene because.grades other than l-K contain much more sulfur
and will increase sulfur dioxide emissions, posing a possible health problem.
If you buy kerosene from a gasoline station make sure you and/or the attendant
are using the kerosene pump, not the gasoline pump.
- Never fill the heater while it is operating. Always refuel the heater outdoors
to prevent spillage on floors and rugs which could later result in fire ignition.
- Keep the room in which the heater operates ventilated (e.g. door open or
the window ajar). This will prevent an indoor air pollution problem and minimize
health problems. Kerosene heaters are not usually vented.
- Keep flammable liquids and fabrics away from an open flame.
- Never try to move the heater or try to smother the flames with a rug or
a blanket if a flare-up occurs. Activate the manual shut-off switch and call
the fire department. Moving the heater may increase the height of the flames
and cause leakage resulting in personal injury.
Gas-Fired Space Heaters
Recommendations:
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding where and how to use gas
space heaters. Unvented heaters should not be used in small enclosed areas,
especially bedrooms because of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Do not use a propane heater (LP) which has a gas cylinder stored in the
body of the heater. Its use is prohibited in most states and localities in
the United States.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for lighting the pilot. Gas vapors
may accumulate and ignite explosively, burning your hand or face.
- Light matches, if needed for lighting the pilot, before turning on the gas
to prevent gas buildup.
- Do not operate a vented style heater unvented. It could allow combustion
products, including carbon monoxide, to reach dangerous levels which will
result in illness and death.
Portable Electric Heaters
The Commission estimates that half the deaths and one-third of the injuries resulting from
electric heater fires occurred at night when family members were asleep and the heater
unattended. The Commission is also concerned about the use of power or extension cords
which can be too small to supply the amount of current required by the typical portable
electric heater.
Recommendations:
- Operate heater away from combustible materials. Do not place heaters where
towels or the like could fall on the appliance and trigger a fire.
- Avoid using extension cords unless absolutely necessary. If you must use
an extension cord with your electric heater, make sure it is marked with a
power rating at least as high as that of the heater itself. Keep the cord
stretched out. Do not permit the cord to become buried under carpeting or
rugs. Do not place anything on top of the cord.
- Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture or the like. Never use
heaters to dry wearing apparel or shoes.
Cooking Equipment
Cooking equipment is estimated to be associated with more than 100,000 fires
annually, and almost 400 deaths, and 5,000 injuries. Gas cooking equipment
accounts for about 30,000 fires, and electric cooking equipment for about 55,000 fires.
Recommendations:
- Never place or store pot holders, plastic utensils, towels and other non-cooking
equipment on or near the range because these items can be ignited.
- Roll up or fasten long loose sleeves with pins or elastic bands while cooking.
Do not reach across a range while cooking. Long loose sleeves are more likely
to catch on fire than are short sleeves. Long loose sleeves are also more
apt to catch on pot handles, overturning pots and pans and cause scalds.
- Do not place candy or cookies over top of ranges. This will reduce the attraction
kids may have for climbing on cooking equipment, thus reducing the possiblity
of their clothing catching fire.
- Keep constant vigilance on any cooking that is require above the"keep warm"
setting.
>Cigarette Lighters and Matches
Each year more than 200 deaths are associated with fires statreted by cigarette lighters.
About two thirds of these result from children playing with lighters. Most of the
victims are under five years old.
Recommendations:
- Keep lighters and matches out of sight and out of the reach of children.
Children as young as two years old are capable of lighting cigarette lighters
and matches.
- Never encourage or allow a child to play with a lighter or to think of it
as a toy. Do not use it as a source of amusement for a child. Once their curiosity
is aroused, children may seek out a lighter and try to light it.
- Always check to see that cigarettes are extinguished before emptying ashtrays.
Stubs that are still burning can ignite trash.
Materials That Burn
Your home is filled with materials and products that will burn if ignited.
Upholstered furniture, clothing, drapery fabrics, and liquids such as gasoline
and volatile solvents are involved in many injury-causing fires each year.
Most of these fires could be prevented.
Upholstered Furniture
In 1989, there were 18,600 residential fires associated with upholstered furniture;
about 900 people lost their lives. About one half of these fires were caused by
smoking materials. Property losses amounted to over $ 100 million from fires started
by cigarette ignition of upholstered furniture.
Recommendations:
- Look for furniture designed to reduce the likelihood of furniture fire from
cigarettes. Much of the furniture manufactured today has significantly greater
resistance to ignition by cigarettes than upholstered furniture manufactured
10 to 15 years ago. This is particularly true of furniture manufactured to
comply with the requirements of the Upholstered Furniture Action Council's
(UFAC) Voluntary Action Program. Such upholstered furniture may be identified
by the gold colored tag on the furniture item. The legend on the front of
the tag in red letters states "Important Consumer Safety Information from
UFAC."
- Always check the furniture where smokers have been sitting for improperly
discarded smoking materials. Ashes and lighted cigarettes can fall unnoticed
behind or between cushions or under furniture.
- Do not place or leave ashtrays on the arms of chairs where they can be knocked
off.
- Look for fabrics made predominantly from thermo-plastic fibers (nylon, polyester,
acrylic, olefin) because they resist ignition by burning cigarettes better
than cellulosic fabrics (rayon or cotton). In general, the higher the thermoplastic
content, the greater the resistance to cigarette ignition.
Smoldering fires in mattresses and bedding materials caused by cigarettes are a major
cause of deaths in residential fires. In 1989 over 35,000 mattress/bedding fires
caused about 700 deaths.
Recommendations:
- DO NOT smoke in bed. Smoking in bed is a major cause of accidental
fire deaths in homes.
- Locate heaters or other fire sources three feet from the bed to prevent
the bed catching on fire.
- Consider replacing your old mattress with a new one if you are a smoker.
Mattresses manufactured since 1973 are required to resist cigarette ignition.
Wearing Apparel
Most fibers used in clothing can burn, some more quickly than others. A significant
number of clothing fires occur in the over 65 age group principally from nightwear
(robes, pajamas, nightgowns). In 1989 about 200 clothing fire deaths were reported;
about three fourths occurred in the 65 and older age group. The severity of apparel
burns is high. Hospital stays average over one month.
Small open flames, including matches, cigarette lighters, and candles are the major
sources of clothing ignition. These are followed by ranges, open fires and space
heaters. The most commonly worn garments that are associated with clothing ignition
injuries are pajamas, nightgowns, robes, shirts/blouses, pants/slacks and dresses.
Recommendations:
- Consider purchasing fabrics such as 100% polyester, nylon, wool and silk
that are difficult to ignite and tend to self extinguish.
- Consider the flammability of certain fabrics containing cotton, cotton/polyester
blends, rayon, and acrylic. These are relatively easy to ignite and burn rapidly.
- Look at fabric construction. It also affects ignitability. Tight weaves
or knits and fabrics without a fuzzy or napped surface are less likely to
ignite and burn rapidly than open knits or weaves, or fabrics with brushed
or piled surfaces.
- Consider purchasing garments that can be removed without having to pull
them over the head. Clothes that are easily removed can help prevent serious
burns. If a garment can be quickly stripped off when it catches fire, injury
will be far less severe or avoided altogether.
- Follow manufacturer's care and cleaning instructions on products labeled
"flame resistant" to ensure that their flame resistant properties are maintained.
Flammable Liquids
One of the major causes of household fires is flammable liquids. These include gasoline,
acetone benzene, lacquer thinner, alcohol, turpentine, contact cements, paint thinner,
kerosene, and charcoal lighter fluid. The most dangerous of all is gasoline.
Recommendation:
- Take extra precautions in storing and using flammable liquids, such as gasoline,
paint thinners, etc. They produce invisible explosive vapors that can ignite
by a small spark at considerable distances from the flammable substance. Store
outside the house.
Early Warning and Escape
Even when you have complied with every item in this Home Fire Safety Checklist,
you still need to have a plan for early warning and escape in case a fire does occur.
Many fire deaths and fire injuries are actually caused by smoke and gases.
Victims inhale smoke and poisonous gases that rise ahead of the flames. Survival
depends on being warned as early as possible and having an escape plan.
You should be able to respond "yes" to the following statements.
Make sure detectors are placed either on the ceiling or
6-12 inches below the ceiling on the wall. Locate smoke detectors away from
air vents or registers; high air flow or "dead" spots are to be avoided.
Recommendations:
- Purchase a smoke detector if you do not have one. Smoke detectors are inexpensive
and are required by law in many localities. Check local codes and regulations
before you buy your smoke detector because some codes require specific types
of detectors. They provide an early warning which is critical because the
longer the delay, the deadlier the consequences.
- Read the instructions that come with the detector for advice on the best
place to install it. As a minimum detectors should be located near bedrooms
and one on every floor.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper maintenance. Smoke detectors
can save lives, but only if properly installed and maintained.
- Never disconnect a detector. Consider relocating the detector rather than
disconnecting it if it is subject to nuisance alarms, e.g. from cooking.
- Replace the battery annually, or when a "chirping" sound is heard.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions about cleaning your detector. Excessive
dust, grease or other material in the detector may cause it to operate abnormally.
Vacuum the grill work of your detector.
Escape Plan
Planning ahead, rehearsing, thinking, and acting clearly are keys to surviving
a fire. How prepare are you?
Recommendations:
Establish advanced family planning for escape. It is an important partner with smoke
detectors and it will prepare you for a fire emergency.
Include small children as a part of the discussion and rehearsal. It is especially
important to make sure they understand that they must escape; they can't hide from
fire under a bed or in a closet.
Your life and that of your family can be saved by foresight, planning,
discussing and rehearsal.
This content is derived from the The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a federa1
agency that helps keep families and children safe in and around their homes. For more tips and information please visit http://www.cpsc.gov.
