Holiday Fire Safety
Thanksgiving remains the leading day for cooking fires, with three times as many cooking fires as an average day. That’s according to statistics by the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which also found that cooking equipment fires are still the leading cause of U.S. home fires and fire injuries, and the third leading cause of fire deaths. On Thanksgiving 2008, U.S. fire departments responded to 1,300 home cooking fires compared to 420 such fires on an average day.
According to NFPA, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 154,700 home structure fires involving cooking equipment between 2004 and 2008. These fires caused an average of 460 civilian deaths, 4,850 reported civilian fire injuries, and $724 million in direct property damage. Overall, these incidents accounted for two of every five (41%) reported home fires, 17% of home fire deaths, more than one-third (37%) of home fire injuries, and 11% of the direct property damage resulting from home fires. Three of every five people (59%) injured in a cooking fire were hurt when they tried to fight the fire themselves
Thanksgiving is a holiday of feasting, but it’s also a day of intense cooking, when stove tops and ovens are working overtime. These culinary activities bring an increased risk of fire particularly when people are trying to prepare several dishes while entertaining friends and family.
Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking equipment fires. Ranges or cook tops were involved in the majority (59%) of home cooking fire incidents; ovens accounted for 16%. Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but these incidents accounted 15% of the cooking fire deaths.
Done Right would like to urge Minnesota homeowners to use caution when preparing your Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Have A Safe & Happy Thanksgiving!
