Fire Accidents: Avoiding Deadly Home Fire Injuries This Thanksgiving

Fires in the home over the holidays will cause tragic deaths of family members and loved ones, endangering not only the structure where the residential fire starts but neighboring properties as well.

Hoosiers run a higher risk than the rest of the country for dying in a home fire. So do those who live in Illinois.  This holiday weekend, the risk of someone dying or being permanently disabled from injuries sustained in a home fire is even higher for those living here.   

Highest Risk of Cooking Fire Fatalities on Thanksgiving Day

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more home cooking fires start on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year (Christmas Day is 2^nd and Christmas Eve is 3^rd).

From the NFPA:

• U.S. Fire Departments respond to an average of 471 home cooking fires each day.
• Home cooking fires are responsible for an average of 530 fire deaths, 5,270 fire injuries, and $1.1 Billion in direct property damage per year.
• Ranges or cooktops are the cause of 86% of cooking fire deaths and 79% of cooking fire injuries.  Electric ranges are more dangerous than gas stovetops.
• Unattended cooking was the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties. Clothing catching on fire causes 15% of home cooking fire deaths.
• One-third (33%) of those who die in a cooking fire are asleep at the time.

Fire Deaths as Homes Catch on Fire

Most people who die in a fire are the victim of a residential house fire.  Fire Departments who rush to fight fires in our country are responding to fires starting in someone’s home seventy-five (75%) of the time.

We also know that:

1. Each year, 93% of all fire deaths occur in a home fire and 87% of all serious bodily injuries in a fire are the result of a home fire;
2. Seven (7) people die each day in a home fire in this country;
3. Cooking fires are the leading cause of houses catching on fire and the second cause of home fire deaths (smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths).

For more, read the 119 page report, “Home Structure Fires” by Marty Ahrens and published by the National Fire Protection Association here.

Indiana Fire Department Warns Hoosiers of 10 Common Home Fire Dangers

While cooking over Thanksgiving increases the danger of fatal home fires, there are other risks that rise over the holidays, as well.

From the Evansville Fire Department are the following fire safety tips for Hoosiers over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend. 

These Indiana Firefighters warn against things most of us will be considering as part of our holiday festivities including not only fires that start while cooking as well as fires caused by overloading or outdated electrical outlets; extension cords; fireplaces; heaters (space heaters and central heating systems); and candles.

Cooking Fire Safety Tips

• Do not leave food cooking unattended.
• Keep cooking areas free of things that are flammable (cloth, plastic), e.g., potholders, food packaging.
• Create a 3 foot cooking safety zone where kids and pets are not allowed to enter.

Electrical Fire and Extension Cord Fire Safety Tips

• Never use 3-way outlet adapters or similar devices; these can overload the outlet and start a fire; this is especially true for older homes.
• Ask your electrician to inspect your home using a small infrared scanner which detects heat build-up at junction boxes and along wire runs.
• If an extension cord is frayed, throw it away.
• If an extension cord is feels warm, throw it away.
• If you are using an extension cord for longer than two weeks, consider having an electrician re-do the wiring to meet your needs.
• Never use an extension cord for heavy-duty appliances (e.g., washers, dryers, dishwashers).

Fireplace Fire Safety Tips

• Have your chimney cleaned by a chimney sweep each year before using it.
• Remember to open your flue.
• Install a spark arrester on the top of your chimney to prevent sparks from blowing out and starting a fire on your roof or surrounding area.

Home Heating Fire Safety Tips

• Have your central heating system serviced and inspected annually.
• Refill kerosene outside after the unit has cooled to prevent vapors from flowing along the floor and igniting at an ignition source.
• Keep all space heaters a minimum of four feet away from things that can catch fire (curtains, rugs, etc.)
• Always turn all space heaters off when you are not monitoring them (i.e., when you leave the house or go to bed).
• Create a 3 foot safety zone around heating appliances where both kids and pets are not allowed to enter.

Smoking Fire Safety Tips

• Do not allow smoking inside the house.
• Never smoke in bed.

Candle Fire Safety Tips

• Never leave lit candles unattended.
• Stop using candles once they have an inch of wax left.
• Use candle holders that are unlikely to tip over.

The Chicago Skyway also suggests now is a good time to check home smoke alarms to make sure they are working with fresh batteries before the holiday festivities begin. 

Liability for Home Fire Accidents and Residential Fire Fatalities

After a residential fire that has resulted in the tragic death of one or more loved ones, there will be extensive investigations both by the local fire authorities as well as the insurance carriers whose policies may cover fire damage.

 Their goals may not jive: the fire department investigators are looking for the causes of the fire for future fire prevention while the insurance company’s focus may well be to avoid liability and payment on a large accident claim.

For those advocating on behalf of those seriously injured or killed in a residential fire, the need to find the root causes for what has happened must be independently investigated to learn what parties may share responsibility for the tragedy.  These parties may include:

• Manufacturers and distributors of a defective appliance;
• Manufacturers and distributors of a defective extension cord;
• Manufacturers and distributors of a defective smoke alarm;
• Manufacturers and distributors of flammable (non-fire-retardant) clothing;
• Manufacturers and distributors of flammable (non-fire-retardant) furniture;
• The designer or builder (contractor) of the residence;
• The repair company ( e.g., electrician);
• The maintenance company (e.g. chimney sweep);
• The landlord and the owner of the rental property.

Both the laws of Indiana and Illinois provide avenues for justice to those who fall victim to a fatal home fire as well as those who are severely injured in a residential fire.  Personal injury law as well as federal and state laws regulating defective products and wrongful death laws work to help those who have been injured or killed in a home fire.

For more, see:

Home Fires Can Be Deadly: Illinois Electrical Experts Death In Tragic Home Fire and Explosion Is Reminder For Us All

Legal Liability for Fatal House Fires in Indiana or Illinois

Indiana Blast, Indianapolis Home Explosion Investigation Continues: Need to Be Aware of Dangers and Risks of Home Gas Furnace.

Please let’s be careful out there!