Cooking, candles leading causes of fires

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For many Americans, a house is their largest single investment. But everyday activities can put that investment at risk.|ret||ret||tab|

According to information from the National Fire Protection Association, hundreds of people are killed and thousands are injured as a result of one of humankind's most essential and pleasurable activities: cooking. |ret||ret||tab|

The pursuit of a home-cooked meal remains the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries, according to NFPA data.|ret||ret||tab|

The key to safety is staying in the kitchen, since six out of seven incidents in a study of home cooking fires said ignition occurred while the cook was out of the kitchen.|ret||ret||tab|

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Cooking|ret||ret||tab|

In 1999, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 96,200 home structure fires attributed to cooking equipment, including 1,800 fires confined to a cooking vessel. These fires resulted in 331 civilian deaths, 4,183 civilian injuries and $511.3 million in direct property damage. Three out of four home cooking fires involve the range. And two-thirds of the time, according to one study, the fires start within the first 15 minutes of cooking.|ret||ret||tab|

"Cooking fires remain one of the toughest problems we face," said John R. Hall Jr., Ph.D., of NFPA's Fire Analysis and Research Division. "We have made less headway in preventing cooking fires than in preventing other kinds of home fires."|ret||ret||tab|

Home fires have been declining but those associated with cooking have been declining at a much slower rate. For example, home cooking fires declined by 29 percent from 1980 to 1999, but home fires in general went down by 49 percent. Deaths from home-cooking fires declined 21percent during that period, but total civilian home fire deaths dropped 44 percent. And while injuries from home cooking fires went down 7 percent in those two decades, total civilian home fire injuries fell 19 percent.|ret||ret||tab|

People often try to put out cooking fires on their own, and more than half of nonfatal cooking fire injuries occurred while fighting the fire. (That contrasts with total home fires, in which firefighting is involved in only one-third of nonfatal injuries.) With cooking fires, the safest response is not what may first come to mind. Using a fire extinguisher or applying water risk splattering and spreading the fire. A safer choice is to smother the fire by covering a pan with a lid or closing the oven door.|ret||ret||tab|

The NFPA has these safety steps during cooking.|ret||ret||tab|

Don't leave cooking food unattended.|ret||ret||tab|

Roll up sleeves and don't wear loose clothing.|ret||ret||tab|

Ban children and pets from a three-foot "safe zone" around the stove.|ret||ret||tab|

Keep pot handles turned in to avoid spills|ret||ret||tab|

Keep pot holders, dish towels, food packaging and other clutter off the stovetop.|ret||ret||tab|

Clean cooking equipment; built-up grease can catch fire.|ret||ret||tab|

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Candles|ret||ret||tab|

Another fire risk in the home is candles. The number of home fires caused by candles has been soaring in recent years, and jumped a startling 20 percent from 1998 to 1999, the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to the NFPA.|ret||ret||tab|

Indeed, 1999 marked a 20-year peak; there were an estimated 15,040 home candle fires that caused 102 deaths, 1,473 injuries (a 33 percent increase over the previous year), and $278 million in damage. In contrast, in 1990, there were 5,460 home fires attributed to candles.|ret||ret||tab|

As with cooking fires, the key is staying in the room and not leaving candles unattended.|ret||ret||tab|

Four out of 10 times, the candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled. One in four times, something that catches fire easily was left too close to the flame. Sometimes children play with the candle. Sometimes someone falls asleep with one or more candles lit.|ret||ret||tab|

Four out of 10 home candle fires start in the bedroom, and two out of 10 in common rooms, living rooms, family rooms or dens. The most common item first ignited by a candle is a mattress or bedding, except in December when decorations are the most common first item.|ret||ret||tab|

NFPA suggests the following candle safety tips. |ret||ret||tab|

Use candles only in rooms where there is a responsible adult awake to control and oversee the flame. |ret||ret||tab|

Keep candles away from items that can catch fire, such as clothing, books, papers, Christmas trees, decorations, window blinds and curtains. |ret||ret||tab|

Keep candles away from high-traffic locations where they can be easily knocked over, including any area accessible to children or pets. |ret||ret||tab|

Place candles on stable surfaces in sturdy holders that grip the candle securely and won't tip over. |ret||ret||tab|

Place candles in candle holders that can't burn and are big enough to collect dripping wax. |ret||ret||tab|

Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they burn to within two inches of the holder, and votive and container candles before the last half-inch of wax begins to melt. |ret||ret||tab|

Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them.|ret||ret||tab|

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