Residential Fire Deaths

Alaska has the distinction of having the highest death rate due to residential fires of any state in the nation. The problem is greatest in rural areas of the state, since the death rate there is five times that of the state as a whole.

Seventy-five percent of residential fires start out by smoldering, as contrasted with those that flash up right at the start. It is recognized that such fires usually proceed in four stages.

During the first, incipient stage, which may last for minutes to days, there is no perceptible smoke, heat or flame. Next, there is a smoldering stage during which there still is no flame or heat, but the combustion increases enough to create visible smoke.

The third stage usually involves less smoke, but flames break out, and much heat is given off. The final, fourth, stage proceeds rapidly with extensive flames and smoke and the emission of many toxic gases.

Because so many fires go through the various stages, early detection of them has the potential to save lives and property. For this reason the use of smoke detectors in residences is coming into more common use.

The person who wishes to purchase smoke detectors should be aware that not all detectors are equal. Two types, ionization and photoelectric, are commonly available. The photoelectric type may be more expensive, but most tests show that this type is less subject to false alarms than the ionization type detectors.