Visitors Since 11/28/01

Fire Safety

The Fire Safety Division is responsible for fire protection through enforcement of fire codes, ordinances, site inspections, arson investigation, and fire safety education programs.

Fire Prevention Week
October 8th-14th, 2006

In 2003, cooking equipment was involved in 118,700 reported home structure fires, the largest share for any major cause. Of these fires, 75,300 were reported as fires confined to a cooking vessel (meaning the interior of a cooking device or appliance). The apparent increase in home cooking fires in recent years is entirely due to confined fires, many of which would probably have been coded as something other than fire prior to 1999.

In addition to the 118,700 home structure fires involving cooking equipment, there were an estimated 3,700 reported outdoor home grill fires in 2003.

In 2003, cooking equipment structure fires in homes resulted in 250 civilian deaths, 3,880 civilian injuries, and $512 million in direct property damage. Cooking also ranks first among major causes in number of home civilian fire injuries.

Most home cooking fires involve the range, and this is also true for losses in home cooking fires. The leading factor in home cooking fires is equipment unattended (one-third of home cooking structure fires, excluding confined fires, and two-fifths of associated civilian deaths), followed by combustibles too close to heat source and unintentionally turning on or not turning off the device.

Portable cooking or warming devices rank third among cooking device groups, behind ranges and ovens, in number of home cooking fires (and second in associated civilian deaths). The majority of these fires specifically involve toasters, toaster ovens, or counter-top broilers. Food warmers and hot plates account for most of the deaths in this category.

Microwave ovens stand out for the number of scald burn injuries reported to hospital emergency rooms but not for thermal burns reported to hospital emergency rooms or for civilian fire deaths and injuries, all of which are dominated by ranges.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE FULL REPORT

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//MbrSecurePDF/cookingfull.pdf

Fire Safety Tips

Test Your Smoke Alarms Installing and testing smoke alarms provide the first line of defense against deadly fire.  They can save your life.

Home Fire Escape Plan Developing and practicing a home fire escape plan that everyone understands can mean the difference between life and death.

Search for Home Hazards Are your everyday habits contributing to fire danger in your home?  

Display Address Numbers Clearly Address visibility provides quicker response times in case of  emergencies.

Know the Facts Many fires that occur each day are preventable. 

Product Recalls

Department of Ecology Permits

DOE Agricultural Burning Permit Application

DOE Special Burn Permit Application

DOE Orchard Tear Out Burn Permit Application

DOE Spot Burning Permit

Building, Fire Safety, & Community Developement Home Page

Building Division

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Starting January 1, 2007, residential and land clearing burning will be banned in all urban growth areas (UGAs) in the state of Washington

Residential burning with a limit on the size of the pile - no larger than 4 X 4 X 3 feet high - requires no permit.

Land Clearing Burn Permit Application - For residential burning outside of urban growth areas contact your local fire department. For land clearing burning outside of urban growth areas, and all other types of burning contact the Dept of Ecology for a permit by calling (509)575-2490. Ecology requires permitted burning to be conducted only on designated burn days. If you do burn, be sure it is legal and safe and always contact your local fire department prior to burning.

Effective July 29, 2005 Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds in established fire rings within Department of Natural Resources Protection.

Fire Danger in Your County

Hey kids! Learn about candle safety and other home hazards with Sparky the Fire Dog®!

• Summer Storm Safety Tips
  
  
• Fireworks

Related Links

U.S. Fire
Administration's (USFA)
Web Site - Find training and educational opportunities for the Fire Service and allied organizations . Also available are fire statistics, public fire education campaign materials, and information on funding opportunities. Federal travelers will find a directory of approved, fire-safe hotels, and for citizens , we offer information on home fire safety.

National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) - The authority on fire, electrical, and building safety.