Fire Accidents

A fire accident is a tragic event that can escalate in seconds, destroying property and severely injuring people, animals, and the environment. Every year in the United States, fire accidents kill an estimated 3,000 people and injure an additional 15,000. Eighty-five percent of these fire accidents occur in the home due to hazardous conditions.

There are precautions that should be taken to prevent fire accidents in the home. One of the most important is to install and maintain functional smoke detectors. Smoke detectors should be checked monthly to ensure that they are working properly and the batteries should be changed once every year. In addition to having smoke detectors on every level of your home, it is useful to have an available fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers, while not capable of distinguishing fires that are out of control, can prevent a small fire accident from turning into a devastating accident.

It is important to discuss fire safety with your family to prevent fire accidents, particularly in the home. Devising an escape plan and meeting spot in case of an accident is an excellent precaution.

While some fire accidents are preventable, others are attributable to a defective product or another party’s negligence. Following a devastating fire, it can be difficult to determine exactly who or what was responsible for the incident.