Putting the Knowledge About Fires in Your Hands

1/14/2019 (Permalink)

Knowing what causes fires can help you to prevent them!

Knowledge is power! The Threat of Winter Fires is Real and according to FEMA:

• 890 people die in winter home fires each year.
• $2 billion in property loss occurs each year from winter home fires.
• Winter home fires account for only 8 percent of the total number of fires in the U.S., but result in 30 percent of all fire deaths.
• Cooking is the leading cause of all winter home fires.
• A heat source too close to combustibles is the leading factor contributing to the start of a winter home fire (15 percent).
• 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. is the most common time for winter home fires.
• Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires.
• Two-thirds of home cooking fires started when food or other cooking materials caught fire.
• Clothing was the item first ignited in less than one percent of these fires, but these incidents accounted for 18 percent of the cooking fire deaths.
• Ranges accounted for the largest share (62 percent) of home cooking fire incidents.
• More than half (55 percent) of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.
• Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.
• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.