This week, October 5 to11, is National Fire Prevention Week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 85 percent of fire fatalities in the US occurred in fires inside homes. The CDC also says most fire-related deaths are caused by the inhalation of smoke and fumes, and not from burns. Detectors are essential to alerting you of smoke and carbon monoxide in your home.
The fall season is an especially important time to bring fire prevention to the forefront of your mind. As the temperatures cool, most people in the country will start using heaters, indoor fireplaces, and perhaps even using the oven and stove more often. These heating sources and others can all lead to home fires. This safety week was established in the years following the Great Chicago Fire, a tragic fall fire taking place over October 8 to 9, 1871, that killed more than 250 people.
Here are some tips to make your home safer:
The National Fire Protection Association says that structure fires during 2011 caused 2,520 deaths. Read more of the NFPA’s fast facts on fires.