NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

November 5, 1998

Tips Offered for Reducing Home Fire Hazards

Some common sense and vigilance can help protect you and your family from becoming one of the 12,000 people killed in residential fires each year in the United States, says a North Dakota State University safety specialist.

"Fires are a preventable disaster," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. "They don't have to happen. Most start due to careless habits with easily ignited materials."

Research shows that 70 percent of residential fires start in the living room, kitchen or basement. As many fatal fires happen in the daytime hours as during the night, except in multiple dwelling buildings where three-fourths of the fatality fires occur during the night. The victims usually are unaware of the fire until it is too late, and some are not aware at all, Maher says.

"Be constantly alert for fire hazards and correct them as soon as you notice them," he says. Most fire hazards develop gradually, so people become accustomed to them and usually don't see them as a threat. Accumulations of newspaper and other combustible materials always start out as a small stack and quickly grow into several week's accumulation.

"Combustibles are frequently stored in the worst areas, too. Utility rooms and next to the furnace are very common and very dangerous locations. A much safer choice would be an unheated area, to eliminate the source ignition," Maher says. "The best choice is not to store them at all but to dispose of the materials right after using them."

Matches and cigarette lighters need special attention, Maher says. They are common causes of residential fires and must be kept out of the hands of children. Youngsters are frequently attracted to these items and home fires are often the result.

Another area of concern is the wood-burning stove or heater. Many fires start when the residents are away from home or have gone to sleep for the night.

Before going to bed or leaving the house, the air intake vents for these units should be adjusted to slow down the rate of burning so the fire will not burn so hot and will last longer. Wood-burning heaters should never be left alone unless you know how to prepare the heater for this unsupervised time, Maher notes.

The wood-burning heater and its stove pipe connections need a constant watch for buildup of soot and creosote through the heating season. Slow-burning fires can lead to buildups of soot and creosote deposits. Occasionally the heater may need to be shut down for a cleaning session, he says. This is also a good time to inspect the unit for any other dangerous conditions.

Finally, protect your family with smoke detectors in case a fire does occur, Maher urges. Test your smoke detectors immediately and check them at least once a month to make certain they operate properly. A smoke detector should be located on every floor of your home and positioned according to instructions that come with the detector.

"Replace the battery at the beginning of the heating season," Maher says. "And develop a family accepted policy of not borrowing batteries from the smoke detectors, no matter what."

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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288

Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629