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Economic Concerns May Increase Incidence of Home Fires
Worcester, MA, October 16, 2008 - The American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released results of a survey showing the majority (79%) of Americans are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes, and many will use an alternative heating source to reduce their bills this winter. The survey identified additional behaviors related to appliance maintenance and cooking that could also present home fire hazards this winter.
"As we head into, what by all accounts is likely to be a very costly heating season, these survey results provide a critical opportunity for us to remind people about the things they can do to prevent home fires and keep their families safe and warm this winter," said NFPA President James. M. Shannon. "If people use alternative heat sources to reduce energy costs, it is critical they use devices that are new or in good working order, and they turn off units when they go to bed or leave the room."
"We are extremely concerned about the safety of our community as we face these economic challenges," stated Red Cross Director of Emergency Services Nicole Valentine. "It is our hope that this survey will encourage more people to take the simple steps necessary to protect their families and homes from fire this winter."
Last year the American Red Cross responded to 134 home fires, providing comfort, shelter and aid to help 257 families pick up the pieces.
"Home fires can be just as devastating as any other type of disaster," said Valentine. "The Red Cross is not only here to help anyone affected by a home fire, but also to provide vital information that helps people prevent these tragedies and keep their families safe while in their homes."
Heating and Cooking Fires:
According to NFPA reports, cooking and heating are the leading causes of home fires. The survey revealed the majority of Americans are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes (79%), and that 48% of households will use an alternative heating source to reduce their bills this winter*. Alternative heating sources include portable space heaters, stoves, ovens and fireplaces. A third (36%) of people with fireplaces reported they never cleaned or inspected their chimneys. The survey also found 23% of respondents did not consider it essential to make sure someone is home when food is cooking on the stove.
Smoke Alarms and Fire Escape Plans:
Respondents also revealed another unsafe behavior, which is disabling (37%) smoke alarms when they go off in a non-testing situation. More than half (53%) of the households surveyed have not taken any of three common actions in most home fire escape plans, which includes discussing with family members how to get out of the home, deciding on an outdoor meeting place and practicing the plan.
NFPA and the American Red Cross offer these and other safety tips:
- Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces
- Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
- If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters
- When buying a space heater, look for models tht shut off automatically if the heater falls over as another safety measure
- Never use a cooking range or over to heat your home
- Keep fire in your fireplace by using a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs
- Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnaces professionally inspected and cleaned once a year
- Visit www.redcross.org/homefires for more information on how to prevent heating fires
Sources: The American Red Cross/National Fire Protection Association 2008*, American Red Cross,** U.S. Fire Administration,*** and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission****.
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