Down the Gopher Hole

Winter is fast approaching, and it won't be long before many of you are rushing to stoke up the season's first cosy, flickering blaze in your home fireplace. Just before you do, you should consider a couple of warnings from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Chimney fires

In the US, in 1982, wood-burning appliances accounted for more fires, more fire deaths, and greater property damage than any other kind of heating fuel(about 140,000 fires, 250 deaths and $257 million in property damage. These losses represented 20% of all residential fires in the US, 5% of all fire deaths, and 8% of estimated property damage.

CPSC research indicates that most wood heating fires involve the chimney, and not the appliance itself. The majority of these fires are contained within the chimney and cause no damage to the house. Of concern, is not only those chimney fires that did ignite other parts of the house, but also the potential future hazard from the continued use of chimneys whose structural integrity has been compromised by a chimney fire. This is especially true in light of the fact that many contained chimney fires are not reported to the fire services; in fact, consumers may not even be aware that a chimney fire has occurred.

CPSC has issued a special safety alert concerning chimneys used with woodburning stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts, which urgently warns consumers to be aware of the potential fire hazards associated with these chimneys and provides information on identifying identifying common causes of fire, structural damage to chimneys, etc.

(From Chimney Safety Alert CPSC Document #5017)

Non-Functioning Smoke Detectors

Fire is the second leading cause of accidental death in the home. Each year, more than 3,500 people die in home fires, and there are more than 400,000 residential fires serious enough to be reported to fire departments.

About 90% of US households have smoke detectors installed. However, a 1992 CPSC survey shows that the smoke detectors in 20% of those households(about 16 million(were not working, mostly because the battery was dead or missing.

Smoke detectors should be tested monthly, and the batteries should be replaced at least once a year or when they make a 'chirping' sound. Long-life smoke detectors with 10-year batteries have been available to consumers since 1995. These long-life detectors also should be tested monthly. Remember too that, in Australia, there are now some statutory requirements relating to smoke detectors. In most jurisdictions, all newly constructed houses must be fitted with a smoke detector and, in some jurisdictions, substantial alterations to a house will also entail fitting such a device. Victoria has foreshadowed the introduction of a `sunset' requirement for mandatory fitting of smoke detectors to all buildings.

(From Smoke Detectors, Press Release #98-015, 21 October 1997.)

Consumer Product Safety Review The most recent edition of the CPSC's quarterly publication highlights some of the action it has taken to prevent children's injuries. As well as its front-page items on reducing lead poisoning, the edition looks at initiatives designed to improve safety with respect to toys, nursery furniture, children's clothing, playground equipment and sports gear.

All three of the above-mentioned documents can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the CPSC gopher or website:
gopher://cpsc.gov/
or
http://www.cpsc.gov/