According to National Fire Protection Association Statistics, during the five-year period from 2016-2020, US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 343,100 home structure fires per year. These fires caused an annual average of 2,610 civilian deaths, 11,090 civilian fire injuries and $7.6 billion in direct property damage.
Most home fires and fire casualties resulted from one of five causes: cooking, heating equipment, electrical distribution and lighting equipment, intentional fire setting and smoking materials.
Over the five-year period of 2016–2020, cooking was the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, while smoking materials caused the most home fire deaths.
How safe is your home from fire?
Make sure that there is one smoke alarm on every level of the home, smoke alarms are tested and cleaned monthly, smoke alarm batteries are changed as needed—recommended once per year, smoke alarms are less than 10 years old.
Make sure you stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food; keep an eye on what you fry, keep pot and pan handles away from stove edges, out of the reach of children; do not store combustibles on top of the stove or inside ovens; do not leave pots unattended on the stove; equip your home with an ABC fire extinguisher.
Make certain that electrical cords do not run under rugs and are in good condition with no cracks, frays or open conductors; don’t overload electrical outlets with multi-prong adapters; large and small appliances are plugged directly into wall outlets; clothes dryer lint filter and venting system are clean. Do not store anything that can burn near furnaces and water heaters.
Make sure that candles are in sturdy fireproof containers that will not be tipped over, you blow out all candles when adults leave the room or go to bed, you never leave children and pets alone with lit candles.
Ensure that carbon monoxide alarms are located on each level of the home and are less than 10 years old.
With smoking being the leading cause of home fire deaths, make certain that family members and guests who smoke only buy fire-safe cigarettes and smoke outside; matches and lighters are kept in a locked place where children cannot see or touch them; ashtrays are large, deep and kept away from items that can catch fire; ashtrays are emptied into a container that will not burn.
Make certain that the home’s heating system is cleaned and serviced by a professional every year; furniture and other items that can catch fire are at least three feet from fireplaces, wall heaters, baseboards, wood and pellet stoves and space heaters; fireplace and barbecue ashes are placed outdoors in a covered metal container at least three feet from anything that can catch fire; space heaters are plugged directly into a wall outlet (no extension cord); space heaters are approved by a national testing laboratory and have tip-over shut-off function.
In case of fire, have an escape plan. Have two ways out of each room. Know to crawl low to the floor when escaping to avoid poisonous smoke and once you’re out, stay out. Know to meet after the escape near the front of your home so firefighters can see you, and practice your plan.
Other reminders
Never store flammables such as gasoline, propane or powered equipment in basements.
Make sure your house address number is visible for emergency responders.
The Fire Marshal’s Office offers a free inspection of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms for one- and two-family homes in Granby, with a limited supply of replacement smoke alarms available to homeowners. Contact the Fire Marshal at 860-844-5321 or firemarshal@granby-ct.gov