Here are the latest North American statistics for residential fires:
Between 2012-2016, there was an average of about 470 home cooking fires per day. These fires caused an average of 530 civilian deaths, 5,270 reported civilian fire injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage per year.
Unattended cooking was the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties. Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1 percent of these fires, but clothing ignitions led to 15 percent of the home cooking fire deaths.
Home fires caused by cooking peaked at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Ranges or cooktops were involved in the 63 percent of reported home cooking fires, 86 percent of cooking fire deaths, and 79 percent of cooking fire injuries.
Households that use electric ranges have a higher risk of cooking fires and associated losses than those using gas ranges.
One-third of the people killed by cooking fires were sleeping at the time. More than half of the non-fatal injuries occurred when people tried to control the fire themselves.
If you are building a new home, consider fire sprinklers. They are extremely effective in stopping kitchen fires. Other new technologies are also available.
Call the TIVFD Duty Officer 252-0228 for information.
