Fire
From the Operating Guidance: Potential for Harm: Most Vulnerable age group: 60 and over and those under four. Children under age 5 are twice as likely as the rest of us to die in a fire. Each year, thousands of children are injured or killed in home fires, and 40 percent of them are under age five. (http://www.childrensdmc.org/firepreventionsafety) Health Effects: Around 90% of domestic fires do not result in any injury. More children die from CO poisoning during fires than actual fire. 36% of fire deaths are people over 65 Source: Healthy Homes Rating System Operating Guidance pp. 150-155
Causes: Fires started by smoking materials account for 40% of fire deaths. About ½ of fires are related to cooking appliances 2,000 annual fires originated from electrical wiring (Britain) 65% of fires start in the kitchen The level of harm suffered is influenced by the presence or absence of a fire detection an alarm system. Death rates from fires in which smoke alarms raise the alarm are 3-4 per 1,000 fires, compared to 7-9 per 1,000 fires where there is no working smoke alarm. (Approximately twice as likely) The failure rate for smoke alarms generally is around 28%. Source: Healthy Homes Rating System Operating Guidance pp. 150-155
Causes: On average in the United States in 2010, someone died in a fire every 169 minutes, and someone was injured every 30 minutes. In 2010, fire departments responded to 384,000 home fires in the United States, which claimed the lives of 2,640 people (not including firefighters) and injured another 13,350, not including firefighters. National Class 1 Outcome rating of 0.68% Cooking is the primary cause of residential fires. Smoking is the leading cause of fire-related deaths. Over one-third (37%) home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms. Most residential fires occur during the winter months. Source: http://detroitgreenandhealthyhomes.org/home-health-hazards/fire
Preventative Measures and the Ideal Means of escape Materials stop the spread of fire Heating system adequate to avoid space heaters. Updated and enough electrical outlets Adequate smoke alarms (and detectors) Means of fighting fire (extinguisher) Source: Healthy Homes Rating System Operating Guidance pp. 150-155
Relevant matters affecting likelihood and harm outcome Likelihood: Space heaters Insufficient electrical outlets Ability of fire to spread Lack of smoke detectors Lack of fire extinguisher Outcome: Same as likelihood Also ability to escape All Burn EMS 911 Calls in Detroit; 1/1/10-8/26/12; Source: Detroit Police Department Source: Healthy Homes Rating System Operating Guidance pp. 150-155 Picture source and data: Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies
Detroit Fire 6,808/375,838 Structures had fire damage = ~ 2% of structures have unrepaired fire damage. Sources: https://www.motorcitymapping.org/#t=overview&s=detroit&f=all&c=fire and Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies
Arson 5300 Block 2900 Block Source: Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies
What to consider: 1)Preventing the Fire 2)Being alerted to the presence of the fire 3)Stopping the spread of the fire 4)Getting out of the house
1) Preventing the Fire
Electrical
Electrical Waste heat generated by the electrical current can cause wiring hidden within a home's walls to expand and contract, eventually loosening it. Once that wiring is loose, the electricity can arc, with a heat output reaching 1,500 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. That's more than enough to ignite wood or old insulation under normal circumstances, but winter weather is less humid than in the summer. Inside a house in the winter months, the relative humidity within the walls can drop to that of the average desert, turning studs -- wooden wall supports -- into kindling, easily ignited by an arcing current. Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/householdsafety/fire/outlet-overload1.htm
Dryer Venting Source: http://www.dryer-duct.com/dryerlintproblem
Furnaces
Vacant Houses Space Heaters
Space Heater Fires
2) Being Alerted HUD HHRS Study: Smoke Detectors Present: Yes 521 No 1267 70% of assessed Detroit homes do not have smoke detectors
Placement of Smoke Detectors
3) Stopping the Spread
4) Getting Out
Related Hazards Electrical VOC s Carbon Monoxide Entry By Intruders Flames and Hot Surfaces Collision and Entrapment
Justifying and Adapting Likelihood/Outcome Outcome Justification: Outcomes changed to reflect common lack of smoke detectors or nonfunctioning smoke detectors in homes. Outcomes reflect rate of death from fire in Detroit. Windows that are painted shut or have bars over them that impede escape are common. Lack of fire extinguishers and vacant and vulnerable houses nearby are common. Likelihood justification: 349, 170 housing units (2010 Census) 9,400 structural fires responded to annually (Wikipedia, Burn documentary) 85% of fires occur in vacant properties (Wikipedia) Estimate that 50% of vacant property fires effect occupied properties (Professional judgment) = 4,500 annual fires in occupied structures 4,500/349,170 = ~ 1% of homes effected = 1/100 likelihood of fire 47 annual deaths from fire (detroitmi.gov)/4,500 fires = 1% chance of death. (Class I) maintain Class II-IV outcomes.
Conclusions Lack of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers very common Nonfunctioning doors, and nonfunctioning or barred windows are very common British national averages very low likelihood, higher outcomes Use local data for fire deaths, occurrences, and injury Take housing stock into consideration (vacant properties, arson, age). Educating clients when in the home
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