F A C T S H E E T
Federal Emergency Management Agency
HOUSE AND B UI LDIN G FI R ES
A fire can engulf a structure in a matter of minutes. Understanding the basic characteristics of fire and learning
the proper safety practices can be the key to surviving a house or building fire.
Install smoke detectors. Post emergency numbers near Check electrical wiring.
telephones.
Check them once a month and Replace wiring if frayed or
change the batteries at least once a However, be aware that if a fire cracked.
year. threatens your home, you should
Make sure wiring is not under
not place the call to your emer-
rugs, over nails, or in high traffic
gency services from inside the
Develop and practice an escape areas.
home. It is better to get out first
plan. Make sure all family
Do not overload outlets or
and place the call from some-
members know what to do in a
extension cords.
where else.
fire.
Outlets should have cover
Draw a floor plan with at least
plates and no exposed wiring.
two ways of escaping every room. Purchase collapsible ladders at
Choose a safe meeting place outside hardware stores and practice
Only purchase appliances and
the house. using them.
electrical devices that have a label
indicating that they have been
Practice alerting other household
inspected by a testing laboratory
members. It is a good idea to keep Install A-B-C type fire extin-
such as Under Laboratories (UL)
a bell and a flashlight in each guishers in the home and teach
or Factory Mutual (FM).
bedroom for this purpose. family members how to use
them.
Practice evacuating the building
Contact your local fire depart-
blindfolded. In a real fire situation,
ment or American Red Cross
the amount of smoke generated by a Do not store combustible
chapter for more information
fire will most likely make it impos- materials in closed areas or
on fire safety.
sible to see. near a heat source.
Practice staying low to the ground
when escaping.
Cooking
Feel all doors before opening
them. If the door is hot, get out
Keep the stove area clean and clear of
another way.
combustibles such as bags, boxes, and
Learn to stop, drop to the ground,
other appliances. If a fire starts, put a lid
and roll if clothes catch fire.
over the burning pan or use a fire
extinguisher. Be careful. Moving the
pan can cause the fire to spread. Never
pour water on grease fires.
Get out as quickly and as safely Give first aid where
Smoke Detectors
as possible. appropriate.
Seriously injured or burned
Smoke detectors more than double
Use the stairs to escape. victims should be transported to
the chance of surviving a fire. Smoke
professional medical help
detectors sense abnormal amounts of
immediately.
smoke or invisible combustion gases in
When evacuating, stay low to
the air. They can detect both smouldering
the ground.
and burning fires. At least one smoke
If possible, cover mouth with a Stay out of damaged buildings.
detector should be installed on every
cloth to avoid inhaling smoke and Return home only when local fire
level of a structure. Test the smoke
gases. authorities say it is safe.
detectors each month and replace the
batteries at least once a year. Purchase
Close doors in each room after Look for structural damage.
smoke detectors labeled by the
escaping to delay the spread of
Underwriter s Laboratories (UL) or
the fire.
Check that all wiring and
Factory Mutual (FM).
utilities are safe.
If in a room with a closed door.
If smoke is pouring in around the Discard food that has been
bottom of the door or it feels hot, exposed to heat, smoke, or
keep the door closed. soot.
Open a window to escape or for
Contact insurance agent.
fresh air while awaiting rescue.
Don t discard damaged goods
If there is no smoke at the
until after an inventory has been
bottom or top and the door is not
taken. Save receipts for money
hot, then open the door slowly.
spent relating to fire loss.
If there is too much smoke or fire
in the hall, slam the door shut.
Heating Devices
Call the fire department from a
Heating devices such as portable
location outside the house.
heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces
demand safe operation. Use portable
heaters in well-ventilated rooms only.
Refuel kerosene heaters outdoors only.
Have chimneys and wood stoves cleaned
annually. Buy only approved heaters
and follow the manufacturer s directions.
EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION
September 1993
B A C K G R O U N D E R
WHAT IS A FIRE?
HOUSE AND BUILDING FIRES
EMERGENCY INFORMATION Fire is the fourth largest accidental
1. The leading cause of death in a fire is asphyxiation. Fire
killer in the United States, behind
victims seldom see the flames. Fire consumes the oxygen in
the air, thereby increasing the concentration of deadly car- motor vehicle accidents, falls, and
bon monoxide in the atmosphere. Inhaling carbon monox-
drownings. It is also the disaster
ide causes a loss of consciousness or death within minutes.
2. The heat from a fire can melt clothes and scorch the
that families are mostly likely to
lungs in a single breath. At floor level, temperatures average
experience. Over 80 percent of all
about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but at eye level rise to 600
degrees.
fire deaths occur where people
3. House fires begin with a bright flame then quickly gen-
erate a black, choking smoke. It is nearly impossible to see
sleep, such as in homes or hotels.
through a thick cloud of smoke, so fire drill participants
Most fires occur when people are
should practice evacuating buildings with their eyes closed.
likely to be less alert such as
between midnight and morning.
Eighty-four percent of house and
building fires are accidental, such
as those caused by poor electrical
wiring or careless behavior.
However, 16 percent are set
intentionally through arson or acts
Accidental fire and explosion can strike anywhere. Fire fatalities tend to be distributed
according to population density, i.e., those states with the largest populations tend also to
of terrorism.
have the greatest number of fire fatalities.
HELP YOUR COMMUNITY GET READY
CAUSE OF HOME FIRE DEATHS
The media can raise awareness about fire safety by providing important
information to the community. Here are some suggestions: 26%
1. Publish a series on how to recognize potential fire
16%
hazards in the home and workplace.
14%
2. Run a story featuring interviews with local fire
10%
officials about how to make homes fire-safe.
10%
3. Provide tips on conducting fire drills in the home,
mentioning the need for multiple escape routes and a
8%
meeting place outside of the home.
16%
4. Highlight the importance of home smoke detectors
1986-1990 Annual Average
by running monthly  battery-check reminders.
Source: National Fire
Protection Association
D I D Y O U K N O W . . .
Loss of life from fires has been On average, fires kill nearly Approximately three-quarters
significantly reduced because 5,500 Americans each year. of all fire fatalities occur in
of improved technology for Over 30,000 people are injured residential dwellings.
fire response and a better in fires annually.
Each year, fire causes over
educated public  particularly
In the United States, someone $2 billion worth of damage to
regarding the life-saving
dies in a fire every 40 minutes. homes.
advantages of using and
Most often, victims are chil-
maintaining smoke detectors.
dren or the elderly.
The United States Fire Admin-
istration reports a 5.9 percent
Nearly 25 percent of the fires
reduction in deaths attributable
that kill young children are
to fires over the period of 1983
started by children playing
to 1990.
with fire. Approximately
1,300 senior citizens die in
fires annually.
EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION
September 1993