|
December 13, 2011
Red Deer Emergency Services was recently called to a residential home fire that started in a basement bedroom. Upon entering the structure fire crews experienced extreme heat and had difficulty reaching the seat of the fire. As conditions worsened an explosion occurred that briefly trapped five firefighters inside the building. Fortunately they all escaped, however a second explosion occurred, injuring a fire fighter on the outside. The bedroom in the basement did not have a window and that made fire fighting extremely difficult. To prevent further injury to fire fighters the fire was then fought from the outside until it was controlled to a point that a crew could safely enter and extinguish the remaining fire. Fortunately, there were no occupants home at the time of the fire; however, the home suffered severe damage.
The investigation is nearing completion with the cause of the fire suspected to be an improperly discarded cigarette. Red Deer Emergency Services would like to inform the citizens of Red Deer that the Alberta Building Code requires windows in all bedrooms so that in the event of an emergency a second way out is available.
Take precautions to protect yourself during the Christmas season. Fires in residential homes increase on average 30 per cent from December 15 through the 31. Some of the common causes during this time of year are:
Smoking
- Smoking is one of the most common causes of fire death in the home
- Be sure ashes are completely cooled before emptying them into the trash
- Never smoke in bed
- Before you go to bed, check seat cushions where smokers have been sitting. The cushions may be smoldering and can fully ignite when you're asleep
- Don’t dispose of your cigarette in peat moss planters as they are full of combustible materials
- Use a non-combustible ashtray
Candles
- Place candles away from anything that could catch fire
- Place candles in sturdy non-combustible holders where they will not be knocked down, and well away from drafts, curtains, children and pets
- Blow out before you go out or go to sleep
- Never put lit candles on or near a tree
Cooking
- Cooking fires are one of the leading causes of home fires and home fire injuries, these fires often occur when people leave their cooking unattended. Other activities in the home or outside can take the attention away from a pot or pan heating on the stove. Some common examples of unattended cooking include being distracted or pre-occupied by talking on the phone, forgetting that the stove is turned on, watching television, reading a book or answering the door; falling asleep; being under the influence of alcohol; or being drowsy from medication or fatigue. While a few minutes may not seem like much time to be away from what’s heating, that’s all it takes for a fire to start and to grow out of control.
- end -
For more information, please contact:
Wes Van Bavel
Fire Prevention Officer
Red Deer Emergency Services
403-356-2457
|
