Deadly Fires a Reminder That Cold Weather Increases Risk

Less than one month into the new year has brought some tragic reminders of the high danger of fire during the winter months while highlighting the need to take fire prevention seriously.

Seventeen people, including eight children, lost their lives when fire ripped through an apartment complex in New York City on Jan. 9. Fire officials said the fire started due to a malfunctioning electric space heater.

On Jan. 5, 12 people were killed in a Philadelphia row house fire reportedly started by a 5-year-old boy playing with a lighter. Fire investigators said they found seven battery-operated smoke detectors in the unit; none were operational.

According to Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel, four of the smoke detectors were found in drawers, one on the floor and one on the ceiling, both with the batteries removed.

Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief Ted Hyle said the tragedies in New York and Philadelphia could have been prevented, or at least minimized, by working smoke detectors and using space heaters properly.

Hyle said his department teaches fire prevention year-round and stresses the importance of smoke detectors.

“Working smoke detectors will save your life,” Hyle said.

Hyle said space heaters, when used improperly, create a fire hazard but they are safe if directions are followed.

“If you use a space heater, read all the information that comes with it,” Hyle said. “It tells you how to use it properly.”

Hyle said space heaters should be kept away from anything flammable like curtains, clothes and furniture.

Martinsburg Fire Chief Randy Acker said making sure smoke detectors are in working order should be done twice a year, most importantly in the fall before the cold weather sets in.

“When getting ready for the winter, it is important to have your furnace checked, and to make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order,” he said.

Acker said working smoke detectors can be the difference between life and death. He said most people who die in a house fire pass away before the flames ever reach them.

“The smoke and carbon monoxide will overwhelm you before the flames reach you,” he said. “If your smoke detectors are not working, the chances of waking up to discover a fire is slim. Smoke detectors can warn you before the smoke reaches you and that gives you a chance to escape.”

Both Hyle and Acker stress that when it comes to using space heaters, follow the manufacture recommendations and keep children and pets away from them.

Acker said space heaters are not meant to be used as a primary heating source and run all the time.

“If you are using a space heater as your only heating source, that can be a real problem,” Acker said.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) portable space heaters are involved in about 1,700 fires each year causing an average of 80 deaths.

In the deadly New York City fire, officials said several space heaters had been running for days inside some of the apartments, including the heater suspected of causing the fire.

“A lot of those are caused by people not using them the way they should,” said Hyle.

The NFPA estimates that almost three out of five home fire deaths were due to the absence of working smoke detectors and that the risk of dying in a house fire is 55 percent lower with working smoke detectors than without.

Acker said smoke alarms are something most people don’t think about until it’s too late. He said a lot of times, batteries are removed after being triggered by someone cooking and just never put back in.

“That is something we see a lot of,” he said. “Cooking will set off the smoke detector, or it will beep when the battery is low, and the person will take out the battery and forget to replace it. That can lead to a tragic conclusion.”

Hyle and Acker said colder weather increases the risk of house fires so extra preventative measure should be taken.

“Get your furnace checked every fall,” Acker said. “Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure the batteries are fresh and that the detector itself has not expired.”

Hyle said a lot of people have a “it won’t happen to me” attitude about fire prevention but said nobody is immune to having something happen.

“It can happen to you, it can happen to me,” he said. “Everyone needs to take the steps to minimize the risk of having a fire or dying in one.