Fire prevention is a term for the many safety measures and programs used to keep harmful fires from starting and to reduce injuries to people and damage to property. Each year, fires cause thousands of deaths throughout the world.
Many individuals, groups, and communities work to prevent fires and reduce injuries to people. They use three main methods: (1) laws and regulations, (2) inspection of buildings and other property, and (3) public education about fire safety. Education includes providing information on safety products such as smoke alarms, automatic sprinkler systems, safety lighting, and other new technology.
Most cities and other local government authorities have codes and standards that require smoke alarms and certain types of fire retardant materials and electric wiring to be used in buildings. Most fire departments and other public agencies inspect public buildings for fire code compliance, fire hazards, and safety risks. In some communities, homeowners may request home safety inspections by their local fire department.
Fire safety education is a key factor in fire prevention. Fire departments, community groups, schools, and others teach children and adults about fire hazards and work to reduce fires throughout the community.
In homes and schools.
Home fires cause the largest loss of life and most injuries from fires. The leading causes of fires in the home are cooking, heating equipment, arson, electrical equipment, and smoking. Since the 1980’s, both the number of home fires and deaths related to them have been in decline. The decrease is the result of such initiatives as fire prevention programs; regulations requiring furniture to be less easily ignited; and the use of smoke alarms and sprinkler systems, and safer smoking materials such as fire-safe cigarettes.
To prevent cooking-related fires, do not leave food cooking on the stove unattended. A pan of hot cooking oil can quickly become a blazing grease fire. Do not try to move a blazing pan. Instead, put a lid on the pan or use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Do not pour water on a grease fire. It will cause the fire to spread.
Limit the amount of trash, old clothing, and other materials stored in attics, basements, or closets in your home. They could quickly catch fire in those places. Flammable liquids such as gasoline, charcoal lighter, propane tanks, and other dangerous items should be stored in a safe place outside the home. Such materials should be stored in a separate storage area, if possible, or at least in the garage. Make sure there is a working smoke alarm in the home and consider installing a residential sprinkler system.
In old homes and schools, have a qualified electrician regularly check electric wiring and replace any that appears weak or worn. Limit the use of extension cords. A fire can also result from overloading one outlet with appliances. See Safety (Safety at home) ; Safety (Safety at school) .
Many types of fabrics burn easily. Parents should teach children not to stand near heaters, candles, lighted stoves, bonfires, or other sources of high heat. Children should also be taught not to play with matches or cigarette lighters. Playing with matches causes loss of life and thousands of dollars in damage yearly in the United States.
If fabrics or similar materials catch fire, use a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze. Call the fire department quickly, after exiting the house, if the fire is beyond control. This call should be made from outside the house.
Many school programs educate children about fire hazards. Young children may learn about these dangers through the use of coloring books, rhymes, slogans, or videos and movies about fire prevention. Sometimes children will visit a fire station. Firefighters and teachers also may give children talks and demonstrations about the risks of fire and other hazards.
In the community,
fire departments and other public agencies work to improve fire safety through laws, inspections, and educational programs. They promote fire prevention and fire safety through billboards, newspapers, pamphlets, posters, radio and television, and social media and the Internet.
In industry,
fire prevention is especially important because fire must be used for so many jobs. Fire is used to perform such tasks as melting metals, heating chemicals, and generating electric power. Machines and furnaces used for these and other manufacturing jobs are at risk due to fires. Inspectors check these machines and other areas of a factory for potential fire hazards and risks to protect workers and reduce the chance of fire. Employers train workers to operate machines safely and to report any problems that could cause fire.
In the event of a fire in a business, there are additional losses beyond the building and its contents. Most businesses have insurance that covers at least some of the costs of replacing equipment and inventory, as well as repairing or replacing the building. However, such businesses also face indirect costs such as the loss of business during the repairs, potential loss of employees due to temporary or permanent job loss, and the possible loss of investors due to lack of confidence in the company. Recovery actions for a business often take a long time after a fire. In many cases, the business does not survive a serious fire loss.
Some businesses have workers that are trained and properly equipped to fight small fires at their jobs. Factory notices, pamphlets, and other methods also promote fire safety.
Fire prevention laws
have been commonplace since ancient times. These laws normally were passed to protect the citizens and their homes in the event of a fire. About 18 B.C., the Roman Emperor Augustus set maximum heights for houses and minimum thicknesses for their walls to reduce the spread of fires. Later laws required minimum separations between buildings to prevent fires from spreading from one structure to the next. Some of these laws were still used in parts of Germany and Italy as late as the 1600’s.
In the American Colonies, homes were mostly built of wood and other natural products. When one house caught on fire, it quickly spread to other homes. Early fire departments were made up of members of the community who used buckets filled with water to extinguish the flames. In many communities, homes were required to have fire buckets, and homeowners were expected to use them to help fight fires.
In 1896, the National Fire Protection Association was formed to develop national fire codes and standards for homes, buildings, and businesses. The first Fire Prevention Day was observed in the United States in 1911. In 1922, the United States and Canada observed National Fire Prevention Week, the first campaign to educate the public in fire safety. Each year, both countries observe National Fire Prevention Week during the week of October 9, the anniversary of the great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom also stress public education in fire prevention. But most industrialized nations rely more on laws, inspections, and worker training. In many countries, insurance requirements form the basis of fire prevention programs.
Forest fires.
Tens of thousands of wildfires are reported each year in the United States. Most of these fires are caused by people. Wildfires destroy homes and damage wildlife habitat and watersheds that provide drinking water for millions of people. The U.S. Forest Service makes major efforts nationwide to reduce fire danger through fire prevention programs. The Forest Service works with homeowners and public and private land owners to reduce the risk of fire. In recent years, managing fires has become riskier and more complex due to climate change, suburbs sprawling into forest lands, and the increase in flammable vegetation.
