A. Kitchen or cooking area
B. Heating equipment room
C. Garage or vehicle storage area
D. Common room, living room
Explanation:
The correct answer is D. The greatest number of civilian home fire deaths can be attributed to the common room, living room, or family room area of origin in the home. According to a report by the NFPA, based on data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and NFPA’s fire experience survey, 31 percent of the civilian home fire deaths in 2017-2021 occurred in fires that started in the common room, living room, or family room. This was followed by 29 percent of the deaths in fires that started in the bedroom or sleeping area, and 12 percent of the deaths in fires that started in the kitchen or cooking area. The common room, living room, or family room area of origin is also the leading area of origin for home fires and civilian home fire injuries, accounting for 24 percent and 21 percent of those incidents, respectively. Some of the common causes of fires in the common room, living room, or family room include smoking materials, heating equipment, electrical equipment, candles, and fireplaces.
To prevent fires and fire deaths in the common room, living room, or family room, the NFPA recommends the following safety tips:
Keep smoking materials away from anything that can burn. Use deep, sturdy ashtrays and wet cigarette butts before discarding them.
Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Have a qualified electrician inspect and repair any faulty wiring or outlets. Avoid overloading circuits or extension cords. Unplug appliances when not in use.
Keep candles in sturdy holders and away from children, pets, and anything that can burn. Blow them out when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Have your chimney and fireplace cleaned and inspected annually by a professional. Use a metal or glass screen to keep sparks from flying out. Dispose of ashes in a metal container with a lid, and keep it outside at least 10 feet away from your home.
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each bedroom, and outside each sleeping area. Test them monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing a home fire sprinkler system for added protection.
