Town of Portsmouth

Town of Portsmouth, RI

FIRE PREVENTION / INSPECTION

In 2005, there were an estimated 381,000 reported home structure fires and 3,030 associated civilian deaths in the United States.

In 2003, there were 118,700 reported home structure fires associated with cooking equipment, resulting in 250 civilian deaths and 3,880 civilian injuries.

Over one-third of reported home structure fires start in the kitchen - more than any other place in the home.

Be sure to constantly attend your stove or range while cooking. Always have a lid that will fit the pan you are using to cook nearby in case the pan does catch fire. If it does, use the lid to cover the pan and smother the fire. Be sure to have an operating fire extinguisher in the kitchen as well.

In 2002, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 45,500 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments. These fires caused an estimated 220 civilian fire deaths, 990 civilian fire injuries, and $449 million in direct property damage.

There were an estimated 32,400 home structure fires per year associated with electrical distribution or lighting equipment fires between the years 1999-2002. These fires resulted in 220 civilian deaths, 960 civilian injuries and $679 million in direct property damage per year.

Maintenance of this heating and electrical equipment would have prevented many of these fires. Be sure to have heating equipment installed, maintained, and cleaned by a qualified service person at least annually. When using space heaters, use them in accordance to manufacturer’s recommendations and be sure they are not near any combustibles. Electrical equipment should only be maintained, repaired, or installed by a licensed electrician. Be sure not to use extension cords as permanent wiring, and do not overload electrical circuits.

Roughly two out of every three home structure fires started by children playing with fire - and three out of four associated deaths and injuries involve matches or lighters.

Be sure to secure all matches and lighters. It is not just enough to hide them from children, they can be just as dangerous as a gun in the hands of a child. If you have a child that “plays” with fire, contact your local fire department for assistance. The Portsmouth Fire Department offers a Juvenile Fire Setters Program free of charge for families with children who need it.

Falling asleep was a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 25% of the home candle fire deaths.

If you use candles, never leave them unattended. Be sure they are clear of combustibles such as curtains, table cloths, and the like, and be sure they are on a secure, solid, non-combustible base so if the candle does tip over, or the wax melts down and begins to flow, it will be contained in the base.

Be sure you have operating smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. When you change your clock be sure to change the batteries in these detectors. The Portsmouth Fire Department offers free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to Portsmouth residents who cannot afford them, and assistance with the installation of these detectors.

The Portsmouth Fire Department also offers free fire safety home inspections. These inspections are free of charge and are not code enforcement inspections. They are advisory inspections and are non-binding. The information gathered in the inspection stays with the homeowner only and is not released to any other agency or your insurance company. For details on these inspections or other fire prevention questions, contact the Portsmouth Fire Department at 683-1200.