Fire & Burn Injury - Statistics

• Every 20 seconds, a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the United States.

• Public fire departments responded to 1,550,500 fires. These include 526,000 structure fires, 410,500 residential fires, 279,000 vehicle fires, and 727,500 outside and other fires.

• In 2004, there were 3,900 civilian fire deaths. 3,190 of these deaths occurred in the home.

• In 2004, home fires caused 82% of civilian fire deaths.

• Nationwide, there is a civilian fire death every 135 minutes.

To help prevent burns:

• Install smoke alarms in your home. Check and change batteries regularly.

• Teach children about fire safety and the hazards of matches and fireworks.

• Keep children from climbing on top of heated surfaces or grabbing hot items such as irons and oven doors.

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so that children can't grab them and accidentally knock them over.

• Place fire extinguishers in key locations at home, work, and school.

• Remove electrical cords from floors and keep them out of reach.

• Know about and practice fire escape routes at home, work, and school.

• Set temperature of water heater at 120 degrees or less.

For more information, please consult the National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org/index.asp)

Free Consultation

If you or someone you love has been seriously burned or otherwise injured in a fire, contact a North Carolina fire and burn injury lawyer at HensonFuerst. We have offices located in Raleigh, Rocky Mount, and Boone, North Carolina, so we are uniquely situated to advocate for clients throughout the state, from the mountains to the coast, including Durham, Greenville, Chapel Hill, Goldsboro and Fayetteville. Complete a Free Online Consultation Form or call us toll free at 1-800-4LAW-MED for an immediate evaluation of your case.

 

*Source: “Fire Loss in the United States during 2004,” NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), M.J. Karter, Jr., September 2005.