Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Report Shows Top Cause of Home Fires Is Cooking Equipment

report conducted by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and U.S. Fire Administration shows that from 2008 to 2010, an estimated 40% of residential fires were caused by cooking equipment. In addition, home heating and cooling equipment was a leading cause of fire fatalities in the home. CPSC urges all consumers to install smoke alarms on every level of their homes, and to create and practice a family fire escape plan for emergencies.

"Six people die every day in home fires," says CPSC Chair Inez Tenenbaum. "The early warning provided by smoke alarms can make a big difference. Consumers who have working smoke alarms in their homes die in fires at about half the rate of those who do not have alarms."