Schools are among the safest public buildings, but fires still happen. NFPA estimates U.S. fire departments responded to about 3,230 school structure fires per year (2014–2018), causing injuries and millions in damage. The leading sources are intentionally set fires and cooking equipment in cafeterias and home-economics areas. Intentional fires account…
Fire Prevention Week is the longest-running public-safety observance in North America. It takes place every year during the week of October 9 to remember the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, a disaster that burned for two days and reshaped how cities think about building safety, fire codes, and public awareness.…
Children don’t need frightening stories to learn fire safety. In fact, the safest approach is calm, age-appropriate coaching that builds confidence through simple rules and playful practice. Good news helps, too: in the U.S., the relative risk of children (≤14) dying in a fire is now far lower than the…
Winter concentrates heating-related hazards. Nearly half (46%) of all U.S. home heating equipment fires happen between December and February, and heating remains a leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths. In 2023, heating caused about 8.1% of residential building fires, second only to cooking. That same year, U.S.…