Design inside the addition designed by James Paris his partner the late Nolan Bingham of Paris/Bingham Partnership for the Columbus Fire Department, Central Fire Station 1, 1101 Jackson Street, Columbus, Indiana, Carla Clark | For The Republic
Design inside the addition designed by James Paris his partner the late Nolan Bingham of Paris/Bingham Partnership for the Columbus Fire Department, Central Fire Station 1, 1101 Jackson Street, Columbus, Indiana, Carla Clark | For The Republic
Last year brought more structural fires to Columbus than the city had experienced in almost a decade.
A total of 45 working structure fires were reported in 2022 – the most since 2014, Columbus Fire Department spokesman Capt. Mike Wilson said.
Although there is some fluctuation from year-to-year, the number of residential fires tend to start creeping up in November before peaking in January with more than 10% of all residential fires, Wilson said.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, 46% of home structure fires and 55% of related deaths occur in the five-month span from November to March. The incidence of daily fires increases around certain holiday periods including Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the December holiday period, the NFPA said.
For early November, one of the most common causes of fires are chimney flu fires caused by a build-up of creosote, Wilson said. He recommends that a professional is hired to clean the creosote out.
Another common cause for house fires is space heaters and other supplemental heat sources. Space heaters need 3 feet of space around all sides to avoid a fire risk, and should not be plugged into extension cords, Wilson said.
“With the amount of power that is drawn from a space heater, those cords could break down and ignite a fast-spreading electrical fire,” the CFD spokesman said.
Most will likely agree it’s a good idea to install a home generator to ensure power in the event of a blackout. But that good idea can turn deadly if the homeowners don’t recognize the danger of electrocution, fire hazards and carbon monoxide poisoning. Residents are urged to pick the right size generator for their power requirements, make sure they are using the correct type of fuel, wait until the generator is cool before refueling and install both carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms, the NFPA says.
The annual peak period for cooking fires is around the Thanksgiving weekend. So far this year, CFD data shows that 30% of Columbus fire incidents have been attributed to cooking.
Nationally, cooking causes an average of 166,430 home fires per year, the NFPA says. These fires resulted in an annual average of 520 civilian deaths, 4,520 civilian injuries, and $1.2 billion in property damage, the association states.
The organization suggests that someone always keep a close eye of what’s being cooked in the kitchen, as well as ensure the area is clear of combustible items. They also suggest that pot handles be turned toward the back of the stove, and that a lid is kept nearby. That way, if a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner, department recommendations state.
Wilson says now is the best time to make sure that your smoke alarms are working. CFD also recommends that all residents develop and practice a residential fire escape plan.
