Indiana Fire & Burn Injury Lawyer

Fire!

Fire kills more Americans each year than all other forms of natural disaster combined. Over 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in the home. In 2004, the National Fire Protection Association reported there was a home fire every 79 seconds in the United States, and in 2003 a home fire death every 170 minutes. Over $12.3 billion in property damage occurred last year as a result of fires.

The consumer products most commonly associated with fires include:

• Wood and coal burning stoves and fireplaces
• Kerosene heaters
• Gas-fired space heaters
• Portable electric heaters
• Cooking equipment
• Cigarette lighters and matches
• Upholstered furniture
• Mattresses and bedding
• Clothing
• Flammable liquids

Common causes of Indiana fire injuries and deaths include careless smoking, disrepair and misuse of heating equipment, and cooking accidents. Use of alternate heat sources such as space heaters or electric blankets increases the chances of starting a fire, especially if these items are not maintained or operated properly.

In commercial property fires, arson is the leading cause of death, injury, and monetary loss.

A working smoke alarm can increase a person’s chances of surviving a fire. Over ninety percent of homes in the United States have at least one smoke alarm but these alarms are not always properly maintained. According to the National Fire Protection Association, it is estimated that over 39 percent of residential fires and 52 percent of residential fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke detectors.