Thursday is the 115th anniversary of the Chicago Fire. The blaze charred more than 2,000 acres of the city and left 90,000 people homeless, and its anniversary is a vital reminder of what fire can do. The fire was also the impetus behind the first national fire prevention observance, 75 years ago. The October observance is now promoted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as Fire Prevention Week.
Last year, home fires killed nearly 5,000 people in the United States, another tragic statistic, especially because the U.S. (along with Canada) has more fire deaths per capita than any other country in the world. But the consolation is that fire fatalities in this country have been decreasing consistently over the last decade.
Fire is indiscriminate. It picks on anyone, though it is especially fond of households that disregard its danger. In most cases, a little care and common sense will go a long way towards preventing a fatal fire in your home. Here are a few reminders about home fires.
— Fire prevention. According to Barbara Lundquist of TriData, a fire protection management consulting firm in Arlington, Va., the three leading causes of residential fires are occasional or alternate heating sources such as space heaters, kerosene heaters or baseboard heating; cooking or grease fires; and arson or revenge fires.
Timothy Butters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency/U.S. Fire Adminstration (FEMA/USFA) warns that most heating-related fires are caused by human error, not mechanical failure. So it is important, especially in the winter, to be conscientious when using alternate heating sources. Never leave heaters unattended; don`t put them near drapes or upholstered furniture; don`t use them to dry clothes. For kerosene heaters, keep the heating area well ventilated, use only the recommended fuel and refuel the heater outdoors.
In the kitchen, be careful when cooking with grease. Have lids available for smothering potential grease fires, and don`t leave your cooking unattended.
Concerning arson, Lt. Thomas J. O`Connell of the Chicago Fire Department`s Fire Prevention Bureau says: ”We live in a day when arson is a more and more common crime. One of the things you want to do is to remove from around your house anything that will burn. Take the fuel away from the arsonists. Don`t make it convenient for them.”
— Early fire detection. The experts agree that your best friend in this category is a smoke detector. Statistics show that 75 percent of the residences in the U.S. are equipped with smoke detectors, though not all of the detectors are properly maintained. With working smoke detectors in your home, you`re twice as likely to survive if a fire occurs.
Most Chicagoans should know about smoke detectors because the law requires them in every dwelling, no more than 15 feet from each room used for sleeping purposes. Still, the law can`t make sure you maintain the units.
Later this month FEMA/USFA (through Ogilvy and Mather Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.), will start a national campaign on fire safety awareness. Their initial message will remind everyone to maintain their smoke detectors. In that spirit you should be sure to change the detector`s battery once a year and have it coincide with your birthday or a holiday so you`ll remember. O`Connell has made Thanksgiving his battery-change day.
Also, you should test the smoke detectors monthly and clean them as often if possible; vacuum the face of the unit to make sure it isn`t clogged. Keep extra batteries handy. Never disable the smoke detector, even if you need the battery for another purpose. And remember, while smoke detectors are the best early warning system you can have, they don`t put out fires.
— Fire suppression. This refers to extinguishing the fire once it has begun. Most of us aren`t prepared to suppress small household fires, which is too bad because quick, proper action can sometimes avert a disaster. At the very least, you should be aware of the different types of fires, because the wrong suppression technique might endanger you and spread the fire.
Common home fires fall into one or more of these three categories: Class A fires, caused by ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood or cloth; class B fires, from flammable liquids such as gasoline or cooking grease; class C fires, from electrical sources such as wiring, fuse boxes or electrical equipment. Each category requires a different method of suppression.
Class A fires can usually be suppressed with water. Class B fires (most often grease fires) should be smothered and should not be doused with water. Water can spread a grease fire. With a stove-top grease fire, turn off the stove and put a lid on the fire. Or pour baking soda on it. In an oven or broiler, shut off the heat source and leave the door closed. For class C fires (electrical), you should try to de-energize the fire, without endangering yourself. For instance, if a small appliance is on fire, try to unplug it or turn off the circuit breaker for that outlet.
Many homes fires are a combination of the three categories, so a single suppression technique isn`t always effective. This is where fire extinguishers are handy.
Fire extinguishers are designed for A, B and C fires or for various combinations of the three. If you`re going to have only one extinguisher in your home, buy an ABC combination extinguisher. It will do well with most small fires you`ll encounter. (Any extinguisher you buy should be labeled with a testing laboratory`s approval.) Make sure it is accessible and fully charged, and that everyone in your family knows how to use it. Read the manufacturer`s instructions.
If you need to use it, stand a safe distance from the fire, aim the extinguisher at the base of the flames and sweep from side to side. Always position yourself between the fire and your escape route; don`t cut off your means of escape. And O`Connell advises: ”If there is ever any doubt as to whether you can put out the fire with the fire extinguisher, then evacuate. Get everyone out.”
Under any circumstance of fire, no matter how small, notify your fire service. O`Connell says, ”Many times on the fire scene, I`ve heard people say, `Well, we didn`t want to bother you guys. We thought we could handle it ourselves.` Well, we get paid to be bothered, and we`d much rather be bothered for a small fire than for a major fire.”
— Escaping the fire. The key to escaping a fire in your home is advance planning. That sounds simplistic, but it`s true.
Devise a fire escape plan that provides primary and secondary means of escape for each family member. A primary means of escape is usually the front or back door. A secondary means of escape can be a bedroom window or a window leading to a porch or a deck. On an upper floor of a house it might be a fire escape ladder.
The NFPA calls this planning EDITH–exit drills in the home. They recommend practicing home fire drills during Fire Prevention Week (this year, Oct. 5-11). Have everyone memorize the fire service number. Every family member should know how to escape from an upper window and descend a ladder if necessary. Choose a place outdoors where the family will meet after exiting. And never go back into the house once you`ve left it.
If your clothes catch on fire, fire safety experts advise you not to run. That would only make the fire worse. Instead you should stop, drop and roll;
stop where you are, drop to the ground, and roll over the burning clothing to smother the flame. Wrapping yourself in a blanket or a rug can be effective as well.
Most people who die in fires die of smoke inhalation, so it is important to know how to cope with smoke-filled areas. When exiting through a smoky house, crawl low, keeping close to the floor. Smoke fills areas from the top down, so the cleanest air will be near the floor. A damp washcloth or similar material over your nose and mouth can help filter the air you breathe.
If trapped by fire, close as many doors as you can between yourself and the flames. If trapped in a room, seal the cracks around the door with towels or sheets and cover vents to prevent smoke from entering the room. If there is a phone, use it to call the fire department. They can radio your location to the firefighters on the scene. Stay near the window, if there is one, so you can signal the firefighters. Open the window only if it helps ventilate the room.
Emergency escape ladders, which can be attached to window sills and hung down the side of a building, are helpul for secondary escape routes. For young babies, O`Connell suggests having a proper car seat and a secure rope in their room, so you can lower them to the ground.
”Tot Finder” stickers are fluorescent decals you can put in the window of a young child`s room. They are designed to inform firefighters of a child`s probable location in a building. They`ve met with mixed reviews for a few reasons. First, houses change owners and the stickers aren`t removed or replaced. So they are not always accurate. Second, the stickers can give children a false sense of security and may encourage them to hide in their room when they should escape the way they`ve been taught. Finally, the stickers can signal a safe entry point for burglars. So while ”Tot Finder”
stickers are a good idea, understand the drawbacks if you employ them.
IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE
Most of us don`t think about our homes catching on fire. It can happen in any home, and the best insurance against a fire tragedy is to decide what to do ahead of time. Here is an escape drill–known as EDITH, exit drills in the home–from the National Fire Protection Association.
— Know your fire department`s phone number (in the Chicago area, dial 911). Keep it posted by the telephone.
— Plan escape routes from the home.
— Decide on a meeting place outside the home.
— Teach family members that they should not re-enter a burning building.
