USFA Report on December and Holiday Fires
The USFA has published a report on fires that occur during December and the holiday season. Cooking is the biggest cause of fires during this time period followed closely by heating.
Meal preparation for parties and family gatherings during the holidays typically generates lots of activity. Traditional holiday decorations and rituals frequently include candles which, as an open flame source, also can lead to holiday tragedies when not monitored properly. Children in particular are attracted to candles.8 This attraction can be especially dangerous during the holidays when candle use increases.
The report is only a few pages and it has lots of good info for fire service personnel and the public at large.
Fire-Safe Cigarettes has a Blog
The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes has a blog in addition to their website.
Drop by and read up on their latest news.
Arson Awareness Week
This week is Arson Awareness Week (May 7 - 13). This from the USFA website:
Arson and other uncontrolled wildland fires pose a serious threat to lives, property, and natural resources in our rural and suburban communities. Conditions are particularly hazardous in the wildland-urban interface, where structures and other human developments meet or intermingle with forests and grasslands.The damage associated with wildland arson, acreage and dollar losses is more than all other causes associated with wildland fires. The increased risk of wildland fires, associated with the rapid development of structures in the wildland-urban interface, makes it all that more important to develop arson prevention and preparedness programs.
Preventing, mitigating and preparing for wildland arson are important steps in protecting lives, minimizing property loss and providing for firefighter safety.
Lots of info at the USFA website and here is a link to the official media kit. Help spread the word to firefighters and the public if you get a chance. It will make a difference.
Tobacco Companies Respond
The president of the NFPA, James Shannon, recently sent a letter to the three major tobacco companies asking them to produce only fire-safe cigarettes. Here are the responses from Lorillard, Philip Morris, and R.J. Reynolds.
Lorillard and Philip Morris both support federal regulations that would require fire-safe cigarettes even though they don't believe any cigarette is "fire-safe". They have a point, but a cigarette with reduced cigarette ignition propensity (RCIP) doesn't exactly roll off of the tongue.
All three companies point out that a broad approach to reducing accidental cigarette-caused fires is needed. They note that this should include public education about the fire danger of cigarettes (even fire-safe cigarettes), better regulation of upholstery and furniture fabrics, and installation of smoke detectors and sprinkler systems. They are right. All of these areas should be addressed.
However, the response of R.J. Reynolds is troubling. They do not support federal or state regulations requiring fire-safe cigarettes. Their letter refers to their Position on "Fire-Safe" Cigarettes on their website. Here is an excerpt:
Just like other cigarettes, the cigarettes that are currently being sold in New York will scorch or melt any fabric or material they come in contact with, and if the fabric or material is flammable, it will burn. We do not expect these cigarettes to reduce the number of fires or fire losses caused by the careless handling of cigarettes. What we know about these cigarettes is that they are less likely to burn their full length when placed on filter paper in a controlled laboratory setting.R.J. Reynolds continues to believe that "fire-safe" cigarette regulations are not an effective means to address the problem of accidental fires attributed to the mishandling of cigarettes.
I guess R.J. Reynolds hasn't taken enough of a beating over the past decade or two. With this statement, they are dropping their guard and leaving an opening for the public to deliver another roundhouse to the jaw. Sheesh!
Here is an excerpt from the Myths vs. Realities from the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes:
MYTH: There is no such thing as a cigarette that reduces the risk of fire.FACT: Research by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), funded by the American Legacy Foundation, indicates several benefits of implementing the New York regulation. "Fire Safer" Cigarettes: The Effect of the New York State Cigarette Fire Safety Standard on Ignition Propensity, Smoke Toxicity and the Consumer Market " compared the physical properties of cigarettes sold in New York with cigarettes of the same brands sold in Massachusetts and California. The report found that New York cigarettes were far less likely to exhibit full length burns (only 10 percent) than those of the other states (99.8 percent). The HSPH researchers found no valid reason why cigarette manufacturers should not sell lower ignition strength cigarettes nationwide. The Harvard study confirmed the 20-year-old conclusion of the Federal Technical Study Group on Cigarette and Little Cigar Fire Safety. This group, created by the Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-567), concluded that it was technically feasible to develop cigarettes with a reduced propensity to ignite upholstered furniture and mattresses. As the Harvard study makes clear, the federal study was correct, and the tobacco industry can make reduced ignition strength cigarettes if it chooses to do so or is required to do so.
Here is the key phrase: it was technically feasible to develop cigarettes with a reduced propensity to ignite upholstered furniture and mattresses.
Its common sense - something R.J. Reynolds seems in short supply of.
Fire Service and Codes Worldwide
Read these two paragraphs from the Pakistan Daily Times:
Lahore’s first multi-storeyed building and a major landmark next to the Punjab Assembly caught fire on Sunday, affecting three floors. People trapped inside escaped using ropes via the rooftop because there are no proper fire-exits in the building. A canteen on the third floor was using a leaking gas cylinder, which no one checked. When people tried to leave down the stairs they found that “encroachments” were blocking the way. As usual the fire brigade arrived late (30 minutes) and took five hours to douse the fire. The firemen didn’t use the ladders fixed to their trucks, which caused the delay. The whole episode was pathetic.
Apart from the fact that our fire brigades are completely clueless, the new buildings in Lahore continue to be built without reference to the building code introduced after the horrible destruction by fire of the Al Fatah shopping centre last year. In such an environment high-rise buildings will simply be mousetraps. Yet, a 40-storey building is coming up in violation of the city’s building laws. The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) says it has directed the architects to take care of the problem. The architects say that the investors, who spent billions of rupees on construction, cared little about the building codes. There will no doubt be more fires. And entering multi-storeyed buildings will continue to be hazardous.
We are fortunate to live in a country that has an excellent fire service and established fire codes with enforcement mechanisms.
If the above paragraph is an indication of how multi-story buildings are being constructed around the world in developing countries, in the future there will be many incidents with large numbers of casualties.
Fire Watch in Construction Industry
Omaha, NE, has some new fire codes that are being credited with reducing the number of fires at construction projects (from KETV.com via Firehouse.com)
At the time of the Old Market Fires, Omaha city fire codes required a person -- called a fire watch -- to stay behind for 30 minutes after all hot welding was done."When you're doing welding and cutting, if you've got any kind of combustible material in there at all -- floors, walls, shafts, or anything -- after you do the hot work, you should have a fire watch there to make sure something didn't get ignited," Porta said.
The code was changed so that fire watches had to stay behind for two hours.
I think this is a good move for the fire service, but I bet the contractors howled about the change. It will cost them money. They will have to pay someone to stay two hours after cutting or welding, or they will have to stop cutting and welding two hours before the end of their work day. In the long run, it will probably save money.
Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes
Check out the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes.
Our mission: The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes is working to save lives and prevent injuries and devastation from cigarette-ignited fires.Our goal: The Coalition is calling for cigarette manufacturers to immediately produce and market only cigarettes that adhere to an established cigarette fire safety performance standard. In addition, the Coalition is working to see that these standards for fire-safe cigarettes are required in every state in the country.
Our members: A national coalition of fire service members, consumer and disability rights advocates, medical and public health practitioners, and others, coordinated by NFPA, who are committed to saving lives and preventing injuries by reducing the threat of cigarette-ignited fires.
I'm behind this effort 100% percent. If there were only fire-safe cigarettes available, there would be fewer fires, fewer civilian fatalities, and fewer firefighter deaths and injuries.
They have an online petition to sign. I signed it - you should too.
Sprinkler Recalls
Will the sprinkler systems in your jurisdiction function properly when there is a fire? If they don't, what other systems are in place in those buildings to keep people safe?
These are questions are addressed in an article from Firehouse.com about sprinker recalls.
WASHINGTON -- Building codes around the nation rest heavily on the theory that sprinkler systems provide the best protection against fire. Now, with millions of defective sprinklers being recalled, fire officials face a new question: What if a sprinkler fails?Beginning in the 1970s, state and local codes gave property owners who installed sprinklers more and more leeway to scale back on other safeguards such as smoke alarms and fire-resistant construction materials.
However, those so-called trade-offs are getting a second look after a string of four sprinkler recalls that has identified 45 million defective sprinkler heads in the past seven years -- a number equal to about one in every 10 sprinklers installed nationwide since 1991.
Read the whole article - good info.
Climate Change and Fire Danger
I haven't put much thought into what climate change might mean for wildland fire danger, but this short article jump started my brain cells (from ABC News Online).
A new study has found bushfire risk across Victoria will increase significantly, due to climate change.The study, funded by the Federal Government, found the number of days of very high or extreme fire danger will increase by up to 70 per cent over the next 45 years.
A google search on "climate change" and "fire danger" has tons of reports and information on this subject from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, etc.
I'm not a climate expert, but if it gets hotter without any additional moisture, it makes sense that there will be more wildland fires. The question is whether scientists know enough about global weather patterns and climate change to accurately predict what is going to happen. I wouldn't make any large wagers that they can.
If if does get hotter without more moisture, typical wildland fire areas could really be in for it. Areas that don't typically have wildland fires could be facing and wildland fire problem that they aren't prepared to deal with.
Keep the Wreath Green
The firefighters at Station #1 in Chapel Hill, NC, have a good fire prevention idea called "Keep the Wreath Green" (from the Herald-Sun).
CHAPEL HILL -- There's a green wreath at the Chapel Hill Fire Station that firefighters hope stays that way through the holiday season."Throughout the holiday season if we have a house fire we take a green bulb out and put a red one in," said Battalion Chief Barry McLamb.
With the increased risk of house fires during the holidays, things like this can really make a difference and raise awareness. Way to go, Chapel Hill firefighters!
Fire Danger High in Texas and Oklahoma
I read two newspaper articles back to back that dealt with the same topic. The fire danger in southern plains states like Texas and Oklahoma is still high.
From the Sweetwater Reporter:
The Texas Forest Service reports from Nov. 11 to Dec. 12, Texas has experienced 184 wildfires for a total of 27,447 acres burned. Within the past few weeks, two firefighters have died in accidents responding to fires and two firefighters were critically burned fighting grass fires.
From the Purcell Register:
Purcell, OK -- In spite of last week’s snow, Gov. Brad Henry’s ban on outdoor burning remains in effect across the state. State forestry officials said the meager amount of snow received was insufficient to relieve the fire conditions the state has experienced since November.
It always strikes me as odd that there would be grass fires in winter, but I'm used to having quite a bit of snow and pretty cold temps at this time of year. However, it makes sense that in warmer parts of the country, if there isn't sufficient snow or rain, the cured grass could really be a problem.
Forest Waste Wood Provides Heat
I ran across an article that describes how brush piles from forests are used to heat schools (from ENN.com via Cascadia Scorecard Weblog).
COUNCIL. Idaho — The tiny Council School District used to pour thousands of dollars into outmoded oil and electric heaters. Nearby, the Forest Service burned brush piles on the mountainsides to keep the brush from fueling forest fires in dry summers.Looking for some savings, Council Superintendent Murray Dalgleish developed Idaho's first public school biomass heating system -- a project that's expected to save Council $1 million on fuel over the next 15 years.
"We're surrounded by the Payette National Forest," said Dalgleish. "We're the Saudi Arabia of wood."
This is a great idea. It helps clean up our forests reducing the danger of catastrophic fire. Schools save a "pile" of money - hehehe. We reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It produces less pollution than fossil fuels. I don't see a downside to this.
Here is the link to the Fuels for Schools website.
Fire-safe Cigarettes in California
Fire-safe cigarettes are now required in California starting January 1, 2007 (from NFPA.org).
October 13, 2005 – California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent approval of a bill mandating the use of cigarettes that are much less likely to cause fires will save lives in that state and could lead to nationwide use of such “fire-safe” cigarettes. Last Friday, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 178, the California Cigarette Safety and Firefighter Protection Act.As a result, that legislation, sponsored by California Assemblymember Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), will require that all cigarettes sold and manufactured in California after January 1, 2007, will be required to comply with standards demonstrating that they have a reduced propensity to burn when left unattended. Such “fire-safe” cigarettes help prevent smoking-related fires. Each year, smoking-related fires needlessly kill approximately 800 people across the country. They are the leading cause of home fire fatalities and a threat to firefighters and other first responders.
Fire-safe cigarette requirements are already in place in the states of New York and Vermont. A recent preliminary report out of New York showed that the number of deaths caused by cigarette-ignited fires has dropped 33 percent since that state’s fire-safe cigarette requirement went into effect.
This is a good thing for firefighters and for the public. It probably won't be long and all 50 states will require fire-safe cigarettes.
Prescribed Fire Use in Spain
Spanish forests are similar to U.S. forests in an important way - neglecting to use prescribed fires and suppressing wildland fires has resulted in a huge build up of fuel. Well, firefighters from Spain regularly visit Baker City, Oregon, to receive training on the use of prescribed fire. This from the Baker City Herald:
This is the ninth straight autumn he has escorted a group of his colleagues to the West to study how American foresters wield fire — planned, controlled fire, like Monday's blaze near Sumpter — as a tool that can reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the future."At home they say to me, ‘when fall comes, the birds fly south and you fly west,' " Castellnou said as he smiled.
His annual migrations have proved to be worthwhile, he said.
"We are adapting the skills we learn here to our own prescribed fire program," Castellnou said.
This is the part that got my attention:
Until the early 20th century, for instance, the country's Basque sheepherders burned forests every year to clear the ground and to invigorate the grass that fattened their flocks.Castellnou said his grandfather used fire for the same purpose.
But starting in the 19th century many Basques emigrated to the United States, including Eastern Oregon, where they looked after some of the hundreds of thousands of sheep that roamed the region in those days before the federal government managed livestock grazing.
Also, many Catalonian farmers moved to cities, Castellnou said.
"As a result, we lost our forest culture and our fire culture," he said. "Our grandfathers knew about prescribed fire, but we lost that knowledge."
Emphasis is mine.
This is exactly what has happened in the U.S. and over the last few years the fire service and researchers have been trying to redevelop our own fire culture and fire knowledge.
Fuel Reducing Goats
Laguna Beach has a novel idea for reducing fuel around the city (from Bloomberg.com).
Laguna Beach, a seaside town with California's highest median home price, has avoided wildfires that have consumed 200,000 acres in the state this year. Fire Department Battalion Chief Kris Head's best defense? Goats.The town pays $200,000 a year to goat ranchers for the services of 750 animals that form a fire break around the city by munching brush, Head said. Demand for fire goats rose after record rains this year caused an explosion of weeds, increasing the threat, said Dan Barnes, owner of the EZ Bar goat ranch.
Good for Laguna Beach. At least they are taking fuels reduction seriously. As long as you don't mind goat pellets everywhere. Hehehe.
Candle Fire Safety Advocates
Read the summaries of what four safety advocates are doing to educate people about the dangers of candles (from Firepreventionweek.org).
When fire safety advocate Tim Szymanski learns of a candle-related fire in the Las Vegas, Nevada, area, the first thing he does is contact local newspapers, TV and radio stations. “I alert the media through a paging system, and when there is a candle fire, I usually meet the media while the incident is going on and talk to them about "another candle incident."
These four people are making a difference in their communities. Does your department have someone educating the public about using candles safely?
Safety Tips for Candles
Here is a list of safety tips when using candles. This one is my favorite:
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Almost half of all home fires started by candles begin in the bedroom. NFPA discourages the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
It would be a bummer to wake up and see that your bedroom is on fire! I guess that would be better than the alternative though - not waking up at all.
Candle Fire Stories
As part of our coverage of Fire Prevention Week, I would like to highlight some snippets about fires started by candles. This comes from the NFPA Fire Prevention Week website.
Louisiana (2005) One of the deadliest fires in state history killed 11 members of a single family, including seven children, and it was started by a candle. The family had just moved into their two-story townhouse in Marrero, and with the electricity in the home not yet turned on, they were using tea-light candles for lighting purposes. On March 10, 2005, a candle on a window sill ignited bedding on the top floor of the townhouse. In a desperate attempt to put out the fire, family members moved the burning mattress down the stairs, placing it on top of a pile of cardboard boxes, while they tried to open the front door. The burning mattress quickly ignited the boxes, producing too much fire and smoke to escape through. After a family member managed to get out of the home and kick down the front door, the resulting eruption of flames quickly engulfed the front of the house.Investigator Dennis Guidry says that the fire deaths offer a tragic reminder of the dangers in using candles for lighting. "These candles were tea candles, meaning that they had no globe or base, they were just sitting on the window sill," he said. "At some point in time, the candle burns all of the way down and the results can be deadly."
- As reported by the Jefferson Parish Arson Investigation Unit, Jefferson, LA.
There are several more stories on the webpage. Read them all.
Use Candles With Care
Fire Prevention Week is October 9 – 12. The theme is Use Candles with Care. I'll try to have a post each day this week to promote the safe use of candles and to promote Fire Prevention Week.
Here is the official website. There is tons of info there so take some time and do a little reading.
Take note of some quick facts about candle fires in the U.S.:
* Over the last decade, candle fires have tripled. In 2001 alone, an estimated 18,000 home fires started by candles were reported to fire departments, an all time high. These fires resulted in 190 deaths, 1,450 injuries and an estimated property loss of $265 million.* Forty-one percent of U.S. home candle fires begin in the bedroom, causing 24% of the deaths resulting from these fires.
* A special study found that the candles were being used for light in one-third of the fatal home candle fires, generally because power to the home had been shut off due to nonpayment (24%) or as a result of a temporary power outage (7%).
* December had almost twice the number of home candle fires of an average month.
* Seven out of 10 households in the U.S. now use candles, with younger adults more likely to use them than older adults.
