THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411160116
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATRICIA HUANG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
A fire that destroyed the second level of a two-story South Norfolk house last month could easily have been avoided, according to Chesapeake fire officials.
In fact, they said, the causes of most fires have simple remedies.
Winter is the most common time for house fires, so local firefighters recommend that residents take simple precautions for fire prevention.
Investigators determined that the blaze in the South Norfolk home began when two young children played with a lighter, making the fire the 18th one set by children in Chesapeake in the past 13 months.
There were 23,790 fires in the United States in 1992 caused by children playing with matches and lighters in the home, causing 400 fatalities. In addition to house fires, there were 102,000 cases of children playing with fire either in the home or outside it, making it the leading cause of fire fatalities for young children.
``The typical response of most kids is that they know it's something they're not suppose to be doing, so they go off where there are no adults. They go off and hide,'' said Chesapeake Fire Inspector Bob Anderson.
He suggests that adults remember to keep all fire materials out of the reach of children and talk with them about fire and its destructive potential as soon as they are old enough to show an interest.
The most common fires in Chesapeake, Anderson said, are kitchen fires. In the winter, the second-leading cause of fires are accidents involving heating equipment.
Be sure to place portable space heaters at least three feet away from combustible materials, such as furniture and curtains, Anderson advised. Do not try to refill kerosene heaters indoors or while they are hot. Keep smoke outlets of fireplaces and wood burning stoves clean and unclogged.
Anderson said the greatest cause of fire fatalities are fires related to cigarette or cigar smoking. Never smoke in bed or leave a lit cigarette in an ashtray, and extinguish matches and cigarettes completely before discarding, he said.
``If you have a party where people have been smoking, check your couch cushions before you go to bed,'' Anderson said.
He said approximately 90 percent of American homes have smoke detectors, but only two-thirds of those detectors actually work.
Chesapeake homes are required by the City Code to have at least one smoke detector, and officials urge that residents test their detectors several times a year. Remember to change the batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings time.
Homeowners who have limited incomes may qualify to receive a free smoke detector from the Chesapeake Fire Department. For more information about the aid program, call the Chesapeake Fire Prevention Bureau at 547-6566. ILLUSTRATION: FIRE SAFETY TIPS
Your home should have at least one smoke detector. Test it
several times a year and change the batteries once a year.
Keep matches and lighters away from children. Teach children to
bring any matches or lighters they find to a grownup.
Older children should be taught safe and proper use of matches
and lighters. Stress the destructive potential of fire.
Many young children die in fires because they instinctively try
to hide from smoke and flames. Plan fire drills with your children
and teach them to escape, not hide.
Even young children can learn the stop, drop and roll maneuver to
be used if their clothing catches fire.
Practice crawling under smoke in a fire drill.
Never smoke in bed and make sure cigarettes and matches are
properly extinguished before being discarded.
KEYWORDS: FIRE
by CNB