Urban Fire
Definition
Urban fire occur primarily in cities or towns with the potential to rapidly spread to adjoining structures. These fires damage and destroy homes, schools, commercial buildings, and vehicles.
History
There are over 5,900 career firefighters and 16,800 volunteer firefighters from over 600 fire departments who provide fire services to Washington State communities. These firefighters responded to more than 50,948 fire calls in 1998 that resulted in an estimated $206 million in property loss, with an average loss of $4,050 per call. More than 7,000 times each year, or 20 times a day, someone in Washington State suffers from a fire in their home. In 1998, there were 73 fire deaths; 75 percent of these fire deaths occurred in dwellings where people live. 1998 marked a second consecutive year of no line-of-duty firefighter deaths in Washington State, however, there were 237 injuries.
Fire deaths in 1998 reached a 14-year high and were more than double the 1997 figures. The five-year average for fire deaths was 55 per year. The ten-year average was 62 deaths per year. In Washington State, 75 percent of all fire deaths occurred in the home. Of great concern is the link of arson and suspected arson to fire deaths.
See Table Eleven, below, for 1998 Fire Department Emergency Responses.
Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Assessment
In Washington State, 38 percent of identified structure fires occur where people live and 75 percent of all fire deaths occur in homes. People are more at risk from a fire where they feel safest, where they live. The leading causes of residential fires in Washington State are from heat from properly operating electrical equipment, matches or lighters, electrical short-circuit or arc, and heat from wood/paper fueled equipment.
Heat from properly operating electrical equipment includes electric stoves, electric heaters, and other electrical appliances. Cooking is a leading cause of residential fires and home heating is the second leading cause, as reported to the United States Fire Administration through the National Incident Reporting System. In Washington State, more than 24 percent of residential fires start in the kitchen cooking area. Fires caused by home heating are usually caused by portable space heaters. In Washington State, fires from wood or paper fueled equipment are also significant. The chimney is the third leading area of fire origin.
Of the homes where fire deaths occurred, 75 percent had smoke detectors. However, only 10 percent were known to be working. Despite the presence of working smoke detectors, ten fatalities occurred because elderly, disabled, mentally handicapped, and alcohol-impaired citizens were unable to escape fires in their homes.
Hotels, businesses, and educational buildings follow as the next leading buildings in which fires occur. These occupancy classes and others have special considerations that must be understood in order to protect citizens from fire dangers. Large assemblies, such as coliseums, retail facilities, and shopping malls are the types of buildings that make communities unique. Community activities often concentrate large numbers of people, creating the risk of large loss of life should a fire occur. To help these buildings be safe from fire, the Uniform Fire Code's international fire safety requirements have been adopted by Washington State.
Arson is a violent crime against people. Arson, when combined with suspected arson, was the leading cause of fire deaths in Washington State in 1998. Arson and suspected arson killed one of every eight people who died in a structure fire during that year. There were a total of 1,113 arson fires in Washington State in 1998.
Urban communities with newer industrial and business facilities are reasonably secure from potential conflagration. These buildings are generally constructed of fire resistive materials, protected with automatic sprinkler systems, and reasonably well separated. Although a major fire may occur in such facilities, it would most likely not spread into adjoining structures. This observation is based on the following:
- The Uniform Fire Code has required sprinklers in certain industrial and business buildings since 1985
- Fire extinguishing and fire detection systems were installed during construction
- Fire stations are strategically located nearby
In Washington State, 7 percent of all fires involve vehicles, an increasingly large share of total fires. Fires occurring in the engine, running gear, and passenger areas account for 77 percent of vehicle fires. Vehicle fires start in engine compartments, brake systems, by driver or passenger smoking.
Conclusion
Prevention is a simple solution to reduce destructive fires. It is incumbent upon each citizen to take the responsibility for his or her family and individual safety and to practice fire and burn prevention. Citizens should insure that the following critical areas of preparedness and prevention are followed to reduce fire deaths and property losses:
- Matches and lighters out of the reach of children
- Heaters 36 inches from anything that can burn
- Cooking always attended
- Homes have a defensible space from wildfire
- Fire safety is practiced at home and work
Fire sprinklers are the most effective fire protection feature a home can have. Installation of home sprinklers must be aggressively pursued, especially for the vulnerable populations of the elderly and disabled. Good public education programs, conducted by fire departments and districts, on fire safety, fire alarms, and fire response are important and aid prevention.
Washington State adopts nationally recognized building and fire codes and rapidly changing fire and safety developments. Legislation is continually being developed and adopted to address specific fire-related problems.
Resources
- Washington State Patrol, Fire Protection Bureau
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Fire Administration
* The first column shows data submitted by the 149 fire departments that reported. The second column shows an extrapolated amount of what the figure would be if the other 70 percent of the departments reported.
- Data and calculations from Washington State Patrol, Fire Protection Bureau.
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