Smoking-Related Fires in Residential Buildings

Have a charged fire extinguisher ready at all times in your home. 

USFA Releases Smoking-Related Fires in Residential Buildings Report

Contact USFA Press Office:
(301) 447-1853

July 9, 2012
EMMITSBURG, MD – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report today examining the characteristics of smoking-related fires in residential buildings. The report, Smoking-Related Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) (PDF, 330 Kb), was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center. The report is part of the Topical Fire Report Series and is based on 2008 to 2010 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
According to the report, an estimated 7,600 smoking-related fires in residential buildings occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of 365 deaths, 925 injuries, and $326 million in property loss. While smoking-related fires account for only 2 percent of all residential building fires, they are a leading cause of fire deaths, accounting for 14 percent of fire deaths in residential buildings. In addition, cigarettes are, by far, the leading type of smoking material involved in residential smoking fires and account for 86 percent of these fires. Finally, residential building smoking-related fires occur most often in the afternoon and evening hours, peaking from 2 to 3 p.m. Forty-two percent of smoking-related fires in residential buildings occur from noon to 8 p.m., however, the smoking-related fires that occur in the late evening and early morning tend to be the most deadly.
The complete Smoking-Related Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) topical report is available at: www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/.
Topical reports are designed to explore the U.S. fire problem as depicted through data collected in NFIRS. The reports highlight important findings from the data and may suggest other resources to consider for further information.
For information regarding other topical reports or any programs and training available at USFA, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.

Take Your Safety Seriously: Hire FIRST TRUST ALARM!

There are many companies that provide security. Which one to choose is the question. How do you select your fire alarm company? I'm not you, but I would choose the one that treated me like I meant something to them. Larger companies rotate their staff to often. Who wants to have a new guy come into your property every few years or even months? No. I want the company that started family oriented and remains family oriented. A business that believes each person living deserves to be safe. The fire and police are the providers of true safety in our community. I would choose the alarm company that knows them fire and police personally. First Trust Alarm is treating human safety seriously. Give them a call and ask about how they can improve your safety no matter where you go. First Trust Alarm specializes in multi-dwelling communities. Through a special relationship with your property managers, this alarm company offers HOA promotion codes on their First Trust Alarm Customer Store. Does your alarm call the fire department? Help them firemen by having an evacuation plan. Go to the FTA CUSTOMER STORE and get your third or second floor escape ladder. The use the handy code given to FTA clients HOA or property managers.

Fire alarm alerts fire crews to smoke in northwest side restaurant | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona

Do you think that the alarm in your house is a waist of money? Why not look at this news clip then tell me what you think. First Trust Alarm Get a profesional inspection soon!

Fire alarm alerts fire crews to smoke in northwest side restaurant | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona

You See This Type Of Plumbing Equipment Everywhere

Have you ever seen something similar to this on or near your property? Did you wonder what it was for? This particular picture is a back-flow prevention assembly for a commercial property fire sprinkler system.

This back-flow prevention assembly is used to protect water supplies from contamination or pollution due to back-flow.

In a public water supply system, water is normally maintained at a significant pressure to enable water to flow from the tap, shower, etc. When the city water pressure fails or is reduced as may happen if a water main bursts, pipes freeze or there is unexpectedly high demand on the water system, the pressure in the pipe may be reduced and may allow contaminated water from the ground, from storage or from (in this picture) fire sprinkler sources to be drawn into the public water system.

I have been in the fire alarm industry for a short period of time and see these types of assemblies every day. My job is to monitor the valves (like the ones you see here) so that they are not shut down, causing the fire sprinkler system to be cut off from water supply. It is also my job to report any of the back-flow devices that have a leak to the proper agencies so that the water supply is not wasted as it drips into the soil.

So I am asking you again; have you ever seen something similar to this on or near your property? Now look and see; Is it leaking? If so, this is your tax dollar dripping onto the ground. The water used here is city water and you pay money to have that water processed and delivered to your house. Therefore you have a right to say something about it. Be a good conservationist and make a call to your city and let them know about the leak.

If you live in the south San Francisco Bay area, you can call me and I will have your complaint sent to the proper agency right away. Yeah, I work for a fire alarm monitoring company and really don't have a large involvement in this area other than I see so many of them leaking. I made it a priority to do something about that on the back-flows that supply my monitored sprinklers. You should too!

First Trust Alarm Co. Fire Alarm Inspection Department

Zachary

(831) 636-1470