NFPA says basic safety precautions can minimize risk to associated fires
November 22, 2010 – As temperatures drop in the months ahead, home heating systems will fast kick into gear. However, some of the heat sources that make us feel warm and toasty also represent a leading cause of U.S. home fires and fire fatalities. According to the nonprofitNational Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s latest U.S. home heating fires report (PDF, 739 KB), heating equipment – primarily space heaters and fireplaces – caused an estimated 66,100 home structure fires resulting in 480 civilian deaths, 1,660 injuries and $1.1 billion in direct property damage in 2008. The estimated home heating fire total declined 0.5% from 2007.
Space heaters result in far more fires and losses than central heating devices. On average, between 2004 and 2008, fixed (stationary) and portable space heaters (excluding fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney connectors, but including wood stoves) annually accounted for one-third (32%) of reported U.S. home heating fires, four out of five (82%) associated civilian deaths, nearly two-thirds (64%) of associated civilian injuries, and half (51%) of associated direct property damage.Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of communications, says the latest home heating fire statistics signal that while we’re seeing a downward trend, there’s still much room for improvement. \”We’ve certainly witnessed some declines in home heating fire rates over the short- and long-term, which is encouraging,\” says Carli. \”But in spite of those gains, the actual number of home heating fires and their devastating impact on people and property each year is simply way too high. There’s still much more we can do become safer from these types of fires.\”
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