Winter Fire Safety

Minnesota Department of Public SafetyState Fire Marshal Division

What is the leading cause of home fires in Minnesota?

• Heating• Electrical• Cooking• Candles (Open Flame)

• Cigarettes

Leading Causes of Fires in Minnesota76% of reported fires are in residential property

• #1 - Cooking: 49%• #2 - Open Flame: 10%• #3 - Heating: 9%

• #6 - Cigarettes: 4%*leading cause of fire fatalities

• #8 - Electrical: 1%

Reduce Your Chance of a Cooking Fire

• Pay attention to your cooking!– If you leave the room, turn off the stove

• Don’t cook if you’re sleepy or if you’re impaired

• Keep flammable items away from heat sources– Curtains, potholders, towels, clothing, etc.

Reduce Your Chance of a Cooking Fire• Clean your stovetop frequently

to avoid grease build up

• Keep flammable cleaners and other pressurized bottles away from heat sources

If You Have a Grease Fire

• Oil and water don’t mix! Never add water to a grease fire

• Turn off the burner• Cover the pan with a lid or cookie

sheet to cut off the oxygen• Don’t move the pan, the hot grease

that could severely burn you• Leave your home and call 9-1-1

What is the top day for candle related home fire in the U.S.?

• Halloween• Christmas Day• New Years Day• Easter• Christmas Eve• Thanksgiving

Top Days for Home Candle Fires

1. Christmas Day2. Christmas Eve3. New Year’s Day

4. Halloween5. December 23

Candle Safety Tips More than half of December home-decoration

fires nationwide are started by candles

• Use flameless candles when possible. • Always blow out candles when you

leave the room or go to bed

• Keep candles out of children’s reach

• Have candles on a solid base

Candle Safety Tips

• Keep a “Circle of Safety” – Keep flammable materials one foot

away from lit candles

• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn

Heating Safety

• In 2010, heating related fires were the 3rd leading cause of residential fires in Minnesota (375 fires)

• 68% of those fires occurred in a fireplace or chimney area

• Most chimney fires are due to a build up of creosote

Heating SafetyHeating Fires Peak

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.26%: Failure to clean (creosote)

Heating Fire Deaths Peak12:00 – 2:00 a.m.

53% : Combustibles too closeto heating equipment

Half of all heating related fires occur in December, January & February

Space Heater Safety

• Over the past 5 years there have been 84 fires in Minnesota related to space heaters

• Nationwide, almost 80% of heating related deaths are due to careless use of space heaters– Usually combustibles too close

Smoking Related Fires

• Ensure cigarettes are completely extinguished

• Use a proper, heavy ashtray which won’t tip easily

• Don’t extinguish cigarettes in planters

• Cigarettes can smolder for hours

Smoking Related Fires

• Don’t smoke in bed

• Don’t smoke if you’re tired, taking medications, or if you’ve been drinking or are otherwise impaired

Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths20% of people that die in smoking related fires

weren’t the smoker

Electrical Safety• Don’t overload outlets

• Avoid putting cords across doorways

• Do not link more than three light strands, unless directions indicate it is safe

Click on picture to see holiday fire safety PSA

Oh Christmas Tree…• Each year in the United

States there are an estimated:– 250 home fires involving

Christmas trees – 170 home fires involving

holiday lights and other decorative lighting

• These fires resulted in 21 deaths and 43 injuries

Click on picture to see a watered vs. unwatered tree fire comparison

• Make sure your tree gets plenty of water

• Keep tree and other decorations out of exit pathways

Plan & Practice Your Home Escape Plan

Important Safety Elements

• Alarms– Smoke–Carbon Monoxide

• Fire extinguishers

• Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems

Smoke AlarmsThere were 39 fire deaths in Minnesota in 2010

Only six of those deaths happened in homes with a working smoke alarm

Check them once a month

Change the batteries once a year

Replace them every 10 years

Alarm Placement & Maintenance

• Make sure you can hear the alarm in every place in your home

• They should be loud enough to wake you from sleep

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

• Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas– There is no way to detect it without an alarm

• Minnesota law requires carbon monoxide alarms in all homes– within ten feet of all sleeping areas

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

• Symptoms of CO poisoning mimic flu-like symptoms

– If you’re feeling symptoms, immediately move to an open window or go outdoors

High levels of CO can be fatal, causing death within minutes

Fire Extinguishers

• There are different types of extinguishers– Each are labeled with letters

or pictures

• Make sure you have the right extinguisher for the type of fire

When in doubt, get out!

Fire Extinguishers

• Learn how to use the fire extinguisher

P – PullA – AimS – Squeeze the triggerS – Sweep back and

forth at the base of the fire

Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems

Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire

90% of fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler

Fire sprinkler systems save lives and reduce damage to your property.

If you have a fire…• Leave, close the door, and call 9-1-1 from outside • Report ALL fires to the fire department,

even if you think you put them out!• Don’t ignore alarms!– Even if your building has frequent alarms, you need to

leave when they go off• Once you’re out, STAY OUT!– Don’t go back inside for possessions or pets – Notify the fire department if anyone is unaccounted for