PREVENT FIRE. PROTECT LIVES: OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH
October is here, and with it comes a crucial reminder about fire safety. Designated as Fire Prevention Month, October is the perfect time for all of us to assess our homes and ensure we have the necessary precautions in place. We are sharing tips and resources to help you protect your home and loved ones from the devastating effects of fire.
Startling Stats
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US fire departments respond to an estimated average of 328,590 home structure fires per year.
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Home structure fires cause an annual average of 2,600 civilian deaths, 10,700 civilian fire injuries, and $8.9 billion in property damage.
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Of those reported fires, 68% occurred in one or two family homes. These fires caused 85% of the home fire deaths, 67% the home fire injuries, and 79% of the property damage.
Common Causes
Most home fires and fire casualties are from one of five causes:
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Cooking
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Heating Equipment
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Electrical Distribution & Lighting Equipment
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Intentional Fire Setting
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Smoking Materials
Other Causes
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Decorations were the first thing to ignite in more than 800 reported home fires per year. One-third of these fires were caused by a candle
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Lithium-ion batteries are a common power source for many of the devices we use daily. While they are a convenient and efficient way to power our electronics, they also pose a fire risk when not handled correctly. Damaged batteries, or those that are improperly used, charged, or stored, are more likely to overheat, catch fire, or even explode.
Safety Tips
While some of these tips are “tried and true”, there are others that may be new information:
Good Practice
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Have a Fire Extinguisher on Hand - A fire extinguisher is a device that uses a compressed agent to interrupt the 'fire triangle' of heat, fuel, and oxygen.
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Fire Blanket at the Ready - this is a sheet of fire retardant material placed over a fire to smother and cut off the oxygen supply.
Cook Safely
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Baking Soda or Sand Available - both can be used to douse a very small fire, particularly on a stove
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Don’t leave your pan unattended. Stand by your pan and watch what you are cooking
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Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove
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Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby in the event you need to smother a stove fire
Battery Safety
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Purchase batteries only listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and labeled accordingly
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Stop charging a battery once its full
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Use charging equipment that is only compatible with your device
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Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds or change in color.
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Have all repairs performed by a trained professional
Smart Smoke Detectors
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Early Detection & Proactive Safety - even the faintest traces of smoke or the smallest sparks of fire can be identified, giving you critical time to act. Systems provide real-time alerts and visual evidence of fire or smoke, allowing for swift intervention. Cost: approx. $55
Arc Fault Detection
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A “Ting” sensor plugs into an electrical outlet to monitor a home's entire electrical network. It works by detecting the tiny electrical arcs and sparks that often occur before a major electrical fire, and it sends a notification directly to the homeowner. Cost: approx. $50
Source: https://www.nfpa.org
