Minnesota Department of Public Safety
State Fire Marshal Division
What is the leading cause of home fires
in Minnesota?
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Heating
Electrical
Cooking
Candles (Open Flame)
Cigarettes
Leading Causes of Fires in Minnesota
76% of reported fires are in residential property
• #1 - Cooking: 49%
• #2 - Open Flame: 10%
• #3 - Heating: 9%
• #6 - Cigarettes: 4%
*leading cause of fire fatalities
• #8 - Electrical: 1%
Reduce Your Chance of a Cooking Fire
• Pay attention to your cooking!
– If you leave the room, turn off the stove
• Don’t cook if you’re sleepy or if you’re impaired
• Keep flammable items away from heat sources
– Curtains, potholders, towels, clothing, etc.
Reduce Your Chance of a Cooking Fire
• Clean your stovetop frequently
to avoid grease build up
• Keep flammable cleaners and
other pressurized bottles away
from heat sources
If You Have a Grease Fire
• Oil and water don’t mix!
Never add water to a grease fire
• Turn off the burner
• Cover the pan with a lid or cookie
sheet to cut off the oxygen
• Don’t move the pan, the hot grease
that could severely burn you
• Leave your home and call 9-1-1
What is the top day for candle related
home fire in the U.S.?
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Halloween
Christmas Day
New Years Day
Easter
Christmas Eve
Thanksgiving
Top Days for Home Candle Fires
1. Christmas Day
2. Christmas Eve
3. New Year’s Day
4. Halloween
5. December 23
Candle Safety Tips
More than half of December home-decoration
fires nationwide are started by candles
• Use flameless candles when possible.
• Always blow out candles when you
leave the room or go to bed
• Keep candles out of children’s reach
• Have candles on a solid base
Candle Safety Tips
• Keep a “Circle of Safety”
– Keep flammable materials one foot
away from lit candles
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and
other things that can burn
Heating Safety
• In 2010, heating related fires were
the 3rd leading cause of residential
fires in Minnesota (375 fires)
• 68% of those fires occurred in a
fireplace or chimney area
• Most chimney fires are due to a
build up of creosote
Heating Safety
Heating Fires Peak
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
26%: Failure to clean (creosote)
Heating Fire Deaths Peak
12:00 – 2:00 a.m.
53% : Combustibles too close
to heating equipment
Half of all heating related fires occur in
December, January & February
Space Heater Safety
• Over the past 5 years there have
been 84 fires in Minnesota related
to space heaters
• Nationwide, almost 80% of
heating related deaths are due to
careless use of space heaters
– Usually combustibles too close
Smoking Related Fires
• Ensure cigarettes are completely
extinguished
• Use a proper, heavy ashtray which won’t
tip easily
• Don’t extinguish cigarettes in planters
• Cigarettes can smolder for hours
Smoking Related Fires
• Don’t smoke in bed
• Don’t smoke if you’re tired, taking
medications, or if you’ve been
drinking or are otherwise impaired
Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths
20% of people that die in smoking related fires
weren’t the smoker
Electrical Safety
• Don’t overload outlets
• Avoid putting cords across doorways
• Do not link more than three light strands,
unless directions indicate it is safe
Click on picture to see holiday fire safety PSA
Oh Christmas Tree…
• Each year in the United
States there are an
estimated:
– 250 home fires involving
Christmas trees
– 170 home fires involving
holiday lights and other
decorative lighting
• Make sure your tree
gets plenty of water
• Keep tree and other
decorations out of exit
pathways
• These fires resulted in 21
deaths and 43 injuries
Click on picture to see a watered vs.
unwatered tree fire comparison
Plan & Practice Your Home Escape Plan
Important Safety Elements
• Alarms
– Smoke
– Carbon Monoxide
• Fire extinguishers
• Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems
Smoke Alarms
There were 39 fire deaths in Minnesota in 2010
Only six of those deaths happened in homes with
a working smoke alarm
Check them once a month
Change the batteries once a year
Replace them every 10 years
Alarm Placement & Maintenance
• Make sure you can hear the
alarm in every place in your
home
• They should be loud enough
to wake you from sleep
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless,
colorless gas
– There is no way to detect it without an alarm
• Minnesota law requires carbon monoxide
alarms in all homes
– within ten feet of all sleeping areas
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Symptoms of CO poisoning mimic
flu-like symptoms
– If you’re feeling symptoms, immediately
move to an open window or go
outdoors
High levels of CO can be fatal,
causing death within minutes
Fire Extinguishers
• There are different types of
extinguishers
– Each are labeled with letters
or pictures
• Make sure you have the
right extinguisher for the
type of fire
When in doubt, get out!
Fire Extinguishers
• Learn how to use the fire
extinguisher
P – Pull
A – Aim
S – Squeeze the trigger
S – Sweep back and
forth at the base of the
fire
Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire sprinkler systems save lives
and reduce damage to your property.
Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying
water directly on the fire
90% of fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler
If you have a fire…
• Leave, close the door, and call 9-1-1 from outside
• Report ALL fires to the fire department,
even if you think you put them out!
• Don’t ignore alarms!
– Even if your building has frequent alarms, you need to
leave when they go off
• Once you’re out, STAY OUT!
– Don’t go back inside for possessions or pets
– Notify the fire department if anyone is unaccounted for