295258
Causes and risks of residential fires in an urban population
Methods: Data on the causes and room of origin of residential fires in Baltimore City from 2010-2011 were obtained from NFIRS. Causes and area of origin were tabulated. As part of a case/control study to examine housing quality, we observed 175 homes in Baltimore of children <8 years old that had recently visited the PED for an illness or an injury. These data were collected from August 2012-April 2013. Homes were observed for the presence of fire risks such as fireplaces, defective stove tops, and overloaded or defective electrical outlets. Risks were tabulated and described.
Results/Outcomes: Among 2,023 fires with known causes, 57.14% were caused by cooking; 6.33% of fires were caused by electrical malfunction. Among 1,001 unintentional fires not contained to the item of origin, 24% originated in the kitchen and 23% in the bedroom. Based on home observations, overloaded electrical outlets were present in 16% of living rooms and 11% of the child's bedrooms. Six households (3%) reported frequently ‘blown' fuses and 5% of households had a fireplace. Other observed hazards included defective stove and missing cover plates on outlets.
Conclusions: Serious fire hazards exist in urban homes with children.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related researchLearning Objectives:
Describe the causes of residential fires in Baltimore City 2010-2011
Describe the prevalence of residential fire risks in a sample of homes in Baltimore City 2012-2013
Keyword(s): Injury Risk, Housing
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been project director and data analyst for multiple federally funded grants on injury prevention research. My research interests include fire injury epidemiology and prevention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.