Florida Fires 2004

[bphgravity]

Interesting Information:

One fire department responds to a call every 22 seconds...
One actual fire occurs every 9 minutes and 26 seconds...
One EMS/Rescue call occurs every 32 seconds...
One vehicle fire occurs every 48 minutes...
One structure fire occurs every 30 minutes and 16 seconds...
One false alarm call occurs every 5 minutes...
One other fire occurs every 19 minutes... and
One other emergency call occurs every 2 minutes and 11 seconds.

There were 1,456,107 responses by Florida Fire Departments in 2004. This included:
14,356 structure fires..10,355 vehicle fires..24,743 other fires..618 exposure fires..966,015 EMS responses..283,071 other emergencies..101,113 false alarms.

This again breaks down to:
11,720 residential..1,614 public and mercantile..1,275 industrial and other buildings..10,624 mobile property..24,839 other property.

This resulted in a loss of $240,544,851.00

Electrical equipment is blamed for 51% of all residential fires. 32.6% of fires within the home occurred in the kitchen.

790 civilians were injured from fire in 2004, 415 died from fire related incidents. 300 of these occurring in a residence.

Smoke alarms were present in 30% of reported structure fires with 63% of those operational. 12% did not operate due to various reasons including no batteries, lack of maintenance, etc. 59% of all structures did NOT have smoke alarms.

 

[hockeyoligist2]

"Electrical equipment is blamed for 51% of all residential fires."

Do they break that down for how many had one of those "multi plugs" installed?


I see that a lot of them when someone calls and say's "my breaker keeps tripping and I have reset it 20 times today!"

 

[dlhoule]

Electrical equipment is blamed for 51% of all residential fires.

Bryan, Is there anyway to find the average age of the residences where these fires occurred? In older homes, many times there have been few if any upgrades to keep pace with increased electrical demands...hence more extension cords (usually 18-2) and in your wonderful state, I would guess there are probably 1 or 2 window AC units plugged into above mentioned extension cords.

In newer homes, there is smaller chance for electrical fires than there are in older homes.

Now I don't know the future, but with energy conservation, we may not see the same problems occurring. (I'm hoping anyway)

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Larry,
The fire data used to support the AFCI rules, shows that 85% of the dwelling unit fires of an electrical cause were in dwelling units over 20 years old.
Don

 

[charlie b]

It is to be regretted that there are, and can be, no statistics to show what percentage of the fires that are blamed on electrical were, in fact, caused by electrical, and what percentage were just blamed on electrical because the inspector could not figure out any other cause.

OK. There I go getting cynical again.

 

[3C]

Charlie b,
That's interesting because I worked at a plant that had an inspector blame a fire on a light fixture when in fact a welder had started the fire in the facility. I don't know the frequency of this practice, but it does occur.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Charlie,
I fully agree with your comment. It is a rare dwelling unit fire that is investigated by a anyone with any electrical training. In many cases the cause is determined by the first due in engine company officer who is not likely to be trained as a fire investigator.
Don

 

[wmgeorge]

Electrical Code and Fires

Electrical Code and Fires

Larry,
The fire data used to support the AFCI rules, shows that 85% of the dwelling unit fires of an electrical cause were in dwelling units over 20 years old.
Don

Here is something I've wondered for a long time. If a given dwelling was wired to existing code in the year constructed and inspected, say in 1970 for example (it could be any year the NEC Code was enforced) ; I'm wondering how many electrical fires were traced back to faulty wiring?

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that a lot of fires that may be electrical in nature, were in fact, like one person said, 18/2 cords on a window AC unit or space heater. OR just maybe a DIY person who did not have clue and we have all seen those jobs!!
I say IF they were wired to Code in any year within reason, they should be safe. Thoughts??

 

[dlhoule]

I say IF they were wired to Code in any year within reason, they should be safe. Thoughts??

What does within reason mean? Because of increase in demand of electrical usage over the years some of the older homes, if not properly updated; I would not consider safe. No GFCIs, no smoke detectors, not enough outlets, too small of service supplying home etc.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Larry,

I would not consider safe. No GFCIs, no smoke detectors, not enough outlets, too small of service supplying home etc.

I don't see any fire safety problem with any of those items assuming that they were installed to code and not illegally modified. Yes, the lack of GFCIs and smokes reduce the safety of the occupants, but the lack of these items do not increase the chances of a fire of electrical origin.
Don

 

[dlhoule]

Larry,

I don't see any fire safety problem with any of those items assuming that they were installed to code and not illegally modified. Yes, the lack of GFCIs and smokes reduce the safety of the occupants, but the lack of these items do not increase the chances of a fire of electrical origin.
Don

I agree with you Don. I was responding primarily to the word safe. I didn't mean to imply the wiring would cause a fire.

 

[wmgeorge]

Electrical Code and Fires

Electrical Code and Fires

I agree with you Don. I was responding primarily to the word safe. I didn't mean to imply the wiring would cause a fire.

When I said wired to Code, I assumed services would have the proper size main breaker or fuse for the wire used, and circuits would be the same. I'm really not sure where the outlet (0r number) spacing came into being... as long as I can remember its been every 12 feet or so any wall space is not more than 6 feet from a outlet. I know the house I'm living in now was wiring in 1961, and seems to be fine. I have upgraded to GFI's and grounded outlets where I could, but the spacing for the most part is as the Code is today. B.G.

 

[bphgravity]

According to this report, the most frequent areas of origin for residential structure fires were:

Kitchen area - 32.6%
Bedroom or sleeping area - 13%
Storage areas / attics - 7.1%
Laundry - 7%
Vehicle storage / garage - 5.9%
Living area - 5.5%
Undetermined / other - 28.9%

 

[dlhoule]

When I said wired to Code, I assumed services would have the proper size main breaker or fuse for the wire used, and circuits would be the same. I'm really not sure where the outlet (0r number) spacing came into being... as long as I can remember its been every 12 feet or so any wall space is not more than 6 feet from a outlet. I know the house I'm living in now was wiring in 1961, and seems to be fine. I have upgraded to GFI's and grounded outlets where I could, but the spacing for the most part is as the Code is today. B.G.

Someone help me out, please. Wasn't it in the late 50's that they came out with the small ground wire in the romex? If I am right, your house wasn't wired to code if you couldn't put grounded outlets everywhere. Now keep in mind a lot of places back then didn't even require an inspection.