Date Posted: 10/06/23
NCP Blog: Fire Safety Tips for Your Home
Did you know that October is Fire Prevention Month? The goal during this month is to help protect families and their homes by raising awareness about fire safety and prevention.
The National Fire Protection Association also sponsors Fire Prevention Week during October. It’s traditionally observed during the week of October 9 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance.
I thought I’d share some fire safety tips and products with you this week.
Common Causes of Fires in Homes
What do you think the most common cause of fires are in homes? You might be surprised to learn that cooking is the leading cause of residential fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
The organization estimates there were 170,000 fires related to cooking in 2021. The NFPA reports that in 2021, Thanksgiving was the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This comes as no surprise, since many of us are in the kitchen for hours on those days! Plus, we’re often cooking multiple dishes at one time, which can lead to distractions.
Other common causes of house fires included:
- 32,200 heating fires
- 29,800 other unintentional or careless fires
- 24,200 electrical malfunction fires
Residential fires accounted for 2,840 deaths and 11,400 injuries in 2021. The good news is that home fires are largely preventable!
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