By Mary O'Hara Smith, IEN Staff
October 5, 2008 -- Remember Mrs. O’Leary and her cow? Well, you may not realize it, but the Great Chicago Fire is directly related to National Fire Prevention Week. In fact, you may not even realize that Oct 5-11 is National Fire Prevention Week, and this year’s theme is Prevent Home Fires.
“Of the more than 74,000 disasters the American Red Cross responds to each year, approximately 93% are fire-related, but unlike natural disasters, most home fires can be prevented,” says Gail J. McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross.
Here are our 5 Fast Facts, courtesy of the City of Phoenix:
- The Great Chicago Fire started on Oct. 9, 1871. So National Fire Prevention Week is always marked on the week that includes Oct. 9.
- The fire killed 300, left 100,000 homeless, and destroyed more than 17,000 structures.
- The Fire Marshals Association of North America sponsored the first National Fire Prevention Day to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the fire, on Oct. 9, 1911.
- President Woodrow Wilson issued the first Fire Prevention Day proclamation in 1920, and President Calvin Coolidge established the Week in 1925.
- Each year, a specific theme is selected and promoted nationwide for Fire Prevention Week.
With cold weather approaching, the rising cost of home heating is of particular concern this year. A survey conducted by the American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association indicates that 79% of Americans are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes in the current economy, and many are planning on using alternative heating sources.
Cooking and heating are leading causes of home fires, according to the NFPA; the survey indicated that 48% of homes will use an alternative source such as portable space heaters, stoves, ovens, and fireplaces, and 36% of people with fireplaces reportedly never clean or inspect their chimneys. In addition, 23% of survey respondents did not consider it necessary to have someone in the home while food is cooking.
Especially disturbing is the fact that 37% of respondents report disabling smoke alarms. And over half do not have a home fire escape plan.
A study from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) concludes that the increased used of synthetic materials in modern homes is causing fires to burn hotter and up to 5 times faster than they did 30 years ago. UL is marking Fire Prevention Week by promoting the three Ps: Prevention, Protection, and Planning:
Prevention: Limit use of candles, and pay attention to where they are positioned; stay in the kitchen any time the stove is in use; and keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. Parents should be aware of the importance of setting a safe example for their children.
Protection: Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of fire-related death in half, so invest in both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms, or those with dual technology; install them on each level of your home; consider linking all alarms so that when one detects smoke, all will sound.
Planning: With synthetic materials reducing the amount of time available to escape a fire, an escape plan is essential. With your family, draw a floor plan and map each member’s escape route; pay special attention to children, keeping in mind that they may not wake up when a smoke alarm sounds; and practice your escape plan.
A great source of information is Fire on the Web, a collection of resources from the Building and Fire Research Laboratory’s Fire Research Division at National Institute of Standards and Technology. Here you can find everything from fire testing data to software models to publications to events – resources for businesses and organizations as well as homes. One final statistic, with the holiday season rapidly approaching: indoor holiday trees account for 400 fires annually, resulting in 10 deaths, 80 injuries, and $15+ million in property damage. nist.gov/
Here are some other resources to check out:
Tests and Measurements for Electrical Fire Prevention
Using Explosionproof Hand Lamps
Voltage Warning Indicators: Electrical Safety Issues
Keeping Electricians Safe