Analysis of Fire Reports on File in the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal's Office Relating to Wood and Coal Heating Equipment.
Analysis of Fire Reports on File in the Massachusetts
State Fire Marshal's Office Relating to Wood and Coal
Heating Equipment.
(4346 K)
Shelton, J. W.
NBS GCR 78-149; 9 p. November 1978.
Sponsor:
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
Department of Energy, Washington, DC
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB-292521
Keywords:
accident investigations; chimneys; coal; creosote; fire
departments; fire safety; heating equipment;
maintenance; stoves; wood
Abstract:
An analysis of solid-fuel related fires reported by
local fire departments to the Massachusetts State Fire
Marshal's Office from late 1977 through June, 1978
indicates that of the fires attributed to specific
causes, roughly 3/4 were attributed to unsafe
installations, and about 1/4 were attributed to unsafe
operation/maintenance. In less than 2 percent of the
fires was the cause attributed to defects or poor design
in the heating appliance itself. Thus, to the extent
that the local fire department reports are complete and
reliable, it appears that attention to installation,
operation and maintenance is what has the most potential
for reducing fires.
