Fire is the third leading cause of accidental deaths in the home in the United States. Thousands of Americans are killed every year and tens of thousands are injured in home and building fires. In fact, Residential fires kill nearly 2,500 people a year in the United States. A large number of deaths are attributable to smoke inhalation and the inhalation of other noxious fumes, as opposed to contact with flame.
Causes of building fires vary considerably, but may include: improperly sited gas line locations, a leaking gas line, a malfunctioning oven or faulty electrical wiring. In addition, improperly installed maintenance equipment may contribute to the spread of a preventable fire. Apartment fires raise the unique issue of whether a landlord was negligent in monitoring the activities of tenants who started the fire.
According to FEMA, the top five causes of home fire injuries are cooking, heating, electrical malfunction, carelessness, and open flames.
Fire forensics investigations have made remarkable progress in the last twenty years. Let our experienced experts determine the cause of a structure fire and whether a structure fire could have been prevented by reasonable measures. Rapid investigation is usually very helpful, so do not hesitate to contact us.
