Fire safety begins at home

The insurance industry recently has been facing criticism from consumer groups for asking its policyholders to take a more proactive approach to reducing fire risks. Some say fire inspections are unnecessary and last minute, especially when they see public insurance companies have ample profits to handle potential losses.

It may be true that the number of deaths resulting from fires in the United States has decreased. However, the the number of fires is up. Additionally, while 6 million homes in California now stand in wildfire red zones, that number is expected to increase by 20 percent in the next decade.

The following fire statistics explain why insurers are trying to light a fire under their policyholders to take some responsibility to reduce future losses, especially as they move into more fire-prone areas.

A National Fire Protection Association study reported that an estimated 3,675 people died in fires in the United States in 2005, the most recent year figures are available. That’s one person every 143 minutes. The number of fires increased 3.3 percent from the previous year, while the number of fire deaths decreased by 5.8 percent in 2005.

Catastrophic fires, including wildfires, caused $6.4 billion in insured losses between 1986 and 2005, with more than $2 billion of that stemming from massive firestorms in 2003 in Southern California, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In 2005, fires caused an estimated $10.6 billion in property damage, NFPA said.

Approximately 17,925 people, excluding firefighters, were injured by fire in 2005. That total recorded by NFPA was slightly higher than the estimated 17,785 injuries reported in 2004.

As always, home fires accounted for the most fire deaths — 82 percent of people died in home fires in 2005.

Even when people leave their homes, they are not entirely safe. Fatalities from fires in cars and other highway vehicles, as in previous years, are responsible for the second highest number of fire deaths across the country — an estimated 500 fire deaths in 2005. All other buildings, vehicles, and locations accounted for 145 fire deaths.

In 2005, public fire departments responded to about 1.6 million fires. That included 381,000 home structure fires, 130,000 other structure fires, 259,000 highway vehicle fires, 31,000 other vehicle fires and 801,000 outdoor fires. Nearly half of all fire department responses were to outdoor fires, principally involving brush or rubbish.

Home fires continue to be the No. 1 cause of fire deaths. Home fires also account for 74 percent of total reported civilian fire injuries and 63 percent of total reported direct property damage.

The NFPA study suggests that fire prevention and safety begins at home. Taking safety steps now — no matter how much of a nuisance — reduce the overall fire problem. And while checking smoke detectors every year, installing a fireproof roof or clearing branches from around the home may cost time and money, consumers should keep the bigger picture in mind. The insurance industry and safety experts share the same goal: keeping people safe by fireproofing homes, businesses and products everywhere.