Indiana Fire & Burn Injury Attorney

Fire & Burn Statistics

• Every 20 seconds, a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the United States.

• Public fire departments responded to 1,584,500 fires. These include 519,500 structure fires, 402,000 residential fires, 312,000 vehicle fires, and 753,000 outside and other fires.

• In 2003, there were 3,925 civilian fire deaths. 3,125 of these deaths occurred in the home.

• In 2003, home fires caused 80% of civilian fire deaths.

• Nationwide, there is a civilian fire death every 134 minutes.

To help prevent burns:

• Install smoke alarms in your home. Check and change batteries regularly.

• Teach children about fire safety and the hazards of matches and fireworks.

• Keep children from climbing on top of heated surfaces or grabbing hot items such as irons and oven doors.

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so that children can't grab them and accidentally knock them over.

• Place fire extinguishers in key locations at home, work, and school.

• Remove electrical cords from floors and keep them out of reach.

• Know about and practice fire escape routes at home, work, and school.

• Set temperature of water heater at 120 degrees or less.

For more information, please consult the National Fire Protection Association.