U.S. Experiences Over 375,000 House Fires Annually

EMMITSBURG, Md — It’s a sobering fact that, on average, over 3000 Americans die each year in home fires and over 18,000 are injured. Those numbers do not include firefighters who lose their lives or are injured.
On average, there are 375,000 house fires a year. Between 2007 and 2009 the property loss from house fires totaled $7.6 billion. While those numbers are staggering, according to a spokesperson from the United States Fire Administration (USFA), most house fires are preventable.
“The number one cause of home fires are cooking fires,” said Sandy Facinoli, USFA Chief of the Prevention branch. And those fires occur “mostly because people left things on top of the stove.”
Some ways of preventing a kitchen fire include keeping towels, pot holders, and curtains away from sources of heat and flame; never using the oven or stove to heat a room or a house; making sure appliances are turned off when finished using them and double-checking the kitchen before retiring for the evening or before going out to make sure all appliances are turned off.
Facinoli shared a tip to help remember what is going on in the kitchen if you momentarily leave while something is cooking. She said that carrying something unusual in your hand, like a pot or a wooden spoon to remind you to go back.
According to Facinoli, “most home fires occur between 5-8 p.m. “Because that’s cooking time.”
Faulty electrical wiring, and extension cords also play a large role in house fires.
In the case of electrical fires, people do a number of things.
“Overloading extension cords and changing the wiring without a professional” are two reasons according to Facinoli.
“My husband’s home, many years ago, burned to the ground because his father did electrical work,” said Facinoli. She added that she hears “many sad stories about people with extension cords under carpets.”
Seeing fire dangers within the walls of a house is virtually impossible. But seeing dark splotches around a receptacle or on a wall is a sure sign to get it checked out.
“If you see something, or feel something like too much heat,” Facinoli said, “check it out.”
The incidence of home fires rises during the months of December and January because of homes being heated by furnaces that are not checked annually.
In these hard economic times, many may opt to supplement their home heating system with an accessory source of heat, such as space or kerosene heaters.
”Be careful with the amount of heat that is going to be close to flammable objects,” said Facinoli. Space heaters need space. Keep items at least three feet away from space heaters.
While kerosene heaters are not allowed in most places, those wishing to use them need to take care by allowing it to cool completely before refueling and being sure to refuel outside, if possible.
“With a kerosene drip,” said Facinoli, “once there is a flame, the drip will ignite.”
According to the USFA, working smoke alarms with a working battery greatly lowers the chance of dying in a fire.
“Dual sensor smoke alarms” sound when they detect a fire with flams as well as a smoky fire that has fumes without flames.
“We hope that families have installed smoke alarms,” said Facinoli.
Keep a smoke alarm on the ceiling of every level of the home as well as outside bedrooms.
“Never take the batteries out to be put into other items like games or remote controls,” said the USFA.
“Many smoke alarms are now made that you cannot take the battery out, and they last for 10 years,” added Facinoli.
Smoke alarms also now come with a “hush” feature that will allow the homeowner to silence an alarm if it goes off in error, such as one near a kitchen.
Placement is key. “The bedroom is a critical place,” Facinoli said. “We want people to be awakened and startled to get out of there as fast as they can.”
With the number one place of all house fires starting is in the kitchen, it’s important to place an alarm near the kitchen, not in it.
”It should be no more than 10 feet away,” said Facinoli. “And it should have a hush feature in case it goes off inappropriately so you can silence it without taking it apart.”
Families who are in need of smoke alarms are encouraged to get in touch with their local fire company.
“No one should not have a smoke alarm,” said Facinoli. “Many fire departments will give away smoke alarms and some will even install them.”
The USFA stresses the importance of having an escape plan and in the plan to have a place outside for everyone to meet. It’s important to have a place and a plan. “Practice it and have a discussion so everyone knows,” Facinoli said.
”Make it so that first responders can see you,” said Facinoli. “I could tell you stories of firefighters and neighbors have gone in (burning houses) and been harmed looking for them.”
Additional information about fire safety may be obtained by contacting your local fire department or by visiting www.usfa.fema.gov or www.ready.gov