HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 03-29 Carelessness, maintenance lack blamed for most fires REVIEW Carelessas
lack
By Kathy Holmes appliances," said Al Schadt, Maplewood
fire marshal, of the majority of fires in
"Most fires have been caused by the last few years. "Many people try to
carelessness and lack of maintenance of makeshift or remodel, not knowing what
furnaces, water heaters, and household danger it may bring.Extension cords are,
in
___
for most c„
used too much, also."
The difference between Maplewood and
other Minnesota communities is that
Maplewood has full-time fire authorities 0
Qr
who answer fire complaintsand in-
vestigate fires. Schadt finds that the IS
major problems are due to residents not .44. 4'4'
putting into practice what they read and
hear from the media.
National percentages for fire causes
are: cooking and heating appliances —
24.1;careless smokers—17.7; electricity
and appliances — 13.8; children with
matches—9.7; flammable fluids —9.2;
faulty chimneys—4.6;clothing ignited— = '
4.2;all other causes 16.7.Most fires occur
between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.
The top floors of homes are the most
dangerous — and that is where most
bedrooms are located.
"The early warning smoke detectors
are essential, we feel, if you expect to
escape tragedy," said Al Schadt. After
flame breaks out, fires in homes spread
1100 percent in the first four minutes.
Howard Anderson, fire chief for North
St.Paul,has found that many fires begin AL SCHADT, Maplewood fire marshall.
because of "poor housekeeping, the
storing of flammable materials and the
storing of or building with plastics. Fire ignites,there is no combustion air which
losses in North St. Paul amounted to can cause an explosion.
$119,000 during 1977.
Of plastic, Anderson said "It can kill When fuses are blown, people
you.It's highly toxic and many people are sometimes
ga p slug their fusehboxes by
unaware of this.Firemen have to use self- sputting "It'sPeery betweenpthe gun and yourhs
contained breathing apparatus when socket. like putting a gun to
head,"Anderson said. The fuse box gets
plastic is burning."
Gasoline and paint thinner should be so hot that it can ignite.
stored in a garage or shed outside. "A lot "A lot of the time, we'd rather have
of people clean paintbrushes in the
people call the fire department if they
basement. Or they may put on coun-
tertops with glue or spray adhesive which smell smoke.It's better not to try to cope
with the fire yourselt,in case it gets out of
is highly explosive," Anderson warned, hand," the North St. Paulfire chief ad-
Like Schadt, Anderson is concerned
with home remodeling.Thin venner wood vised.
sheeting"goes up like tissue paper"and Both Al Schadt and Howard Anderson
styrofoam sheeting has a "high potential have noticed an attitude prevalent among
flammability." Anderson also warned residents. "Most people don't feel that
about people using green wood instead of they'll ever get hit by a fire.They feel like
seasoned wood, making a chimney fire it will happen to the guy next door,"
much more possible.Too much insulation Schadt explained. Unfortunately, this
in a house can be bad too — the house attitude is proven unrealistic in many
becomes so tight that when the furnace house fire cases.