About Fire
Facts and Figures
- On average in the United States in 2010, someone died in a fire every 169 minutes, and someone was injured every 30 minutes.2
- In 2010, fire departments responded to 384,000 home fires in the United States, which claimed the lives of 2,640 people (not including firefighters) and injured another 13,350, not including firefighters.2
- Cooking is the primary cause of residential fires.2
- Smoking is the leading cause of fire-related deaths.2
- Over one-third (37%) home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms.2
- Most residential fires occur during the winter months.2
- Alcohol use contributes to an estimated 40% of residential fire deaths2
Risks
Solutions
- Never leave food unattended on a stove.
- Keep cooking areas free of flammable objects (such as, potholders and towels).
- Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves when cooking.
- Never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended.
- Do not empty smoldering ashes in a trash can, and keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
- Never place portable space heaters near flammable materials (such as, drapery).
- Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children. Store them up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Install smoke alarms on every floor of the home, including the basement, and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.
- Use long-life smoke alarms with lithium-powered batteries and hush buttons, which allow persons to stop false alarms quickly. If long-life alarms are not available, use regular alarms, and replace the batteries annually.
- Test all smoke alarms every month to ensure they work properly.
- Devise a family fire escape plan and practice it every 6 months. In the plan, describe at least two different ways each family member can escape every room, and designate a safe place in front of the home for family members to meet after escaping a fire.
- If possible, install or retrofit fire sprinklers into home.
Local Resources for Detroit Residents
Sources
2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fire Deaths and Injuries: Fact Sheet (http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Fire-Prevention/fires-factsheet.html)
3U.S. Fire Administration/National Fire Data Center: Fire Risk, 2004 (http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v4i7.pdf)