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Fire Hazards in the Home
Did you know?
On average, there are four destructive home fires every day in Alberta.
Home fires are responsible for the majority, 65%, of fire deaths in Alberta.
Home fires are responsible for the majority, 58%, of fire injuries in Alberta.
In 2007 Alberta experienced 23 fire deaths and 212 fire injuries.
From 1998 to 2007 Alberta experienced 319 fire deaths and 3,164 fire injuries.
Reasons for fire deaths in homes – Arson, Cigarettes and Candles.
Major known causes of home fires – Arson, Cooking, Smoking, Heating Equip., Electrical,
Candles, Appliances inc. Clothes Dryers and Children Playing with Fire.
In 2007 Fire Losses in Alberta reached $326,461,771.00
Follow these “Safety Tips” so you do not become one of those “Fire Facts”
Most home fires in Alberta happen in the kitchen. Unattended cooking is a major reason. Never
leave cooking food unattended. When deep-frying, use a temperature-controlled skillet or deep-fat
fryer. It might only take 8 minutes to cook your fries but it only takes 3 minutes to engulf your
kitchen.
Keep cooking areas clean and clear of materials that could catch fire, such as potholders, towels,
shopping bags, rags, drapes and food packaging. Create a “kid-free zone” around the stove,
keeping children and pets at least one meter away from the cooking area.
Give space heaters plenty of space. Space heaters should be at least one meter away from anything
that could burn. Always make sure to turn heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Once a year, arrange for a professional inspection and service of central furnaces, water heaters,
fireplaces and wood stoves, including chimneys and chimney connectors.
Lit candles should never be left unattended or allowed to burn to the bottom. They should be
extinguished prior to leaving the room or going to sleep. Use candleholders that won’t tip over
easily. Candleholders should be made of non-combustible materials and should be big enough to
catch dripping wax safely.
If there are smokers in your home, makes sure ashtrays are large and deep enough. Safety ashtrays
with a double rim and deep centre are best. Douse cigarette and cigar buts with water before
discarding them. Never dispose smoker’s materials carelessly in the yard or in flower pots. Dry
vegetation or peat moss can and will ignite. Never smoke in bed and best is to keep the bedrooms
off limits to smoking.
Keep matches and lighters up high and out of the reach of children. Teach them not to touch them
but to tell an adult if they find them. Best to store them in a child-proof drawer or cabinet.
Replace or repair any electrical device that has a loose, frayed, or broken cord. Follow
manufacturer’s instructions for plugging in appliances. As added precaution, avoid plugging more
than one high-wattage appliance into a single plug-in. Never overload circuits. Use only quality
extension cords that are in good shape.
In homes with small children, plug-ins should have plastic covers.
To reduce the risk of electrical shock, install ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCIs).
Never store gasoline indoors and always store gasoline in approved containers.
Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas. Test them
monthly and change the batteries twice per year. Do not forget to clean them on a regular basis, at
least twice per year.
Have a Fire Extinguisher within reach and learn how to use it.
Spend time to go through your home and “Hunt for Home Fire Hazards”. Correct the problems and
practice fire safety.
Create and practice a fire escape plan with your whole family. Get Out, Stay Out and call 9-1-1.
Let’s all practice Fire Prevention and remember that “Safety is an Attitude”.
Keith R. Martin
Manager of Fire & Emergency Services
County of Newell
Rev. January 13,2014