First Thought When Smoke Detector Went Off

1
1999 NFPA National Fire Escape
Survey December
1999
2
Introduction
3
Background and Objectives

• Background
• The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  has led the way to fire safety since 1896. The
  mission of this international nonprofit
  organization is to reduce the burden of fire on
  the quality of life by advocating
  scientifically-based consensus codes and
  standards, research, and education for fire and
  related safety issues. The Association publishes
  the National Fire Codes and the Learn Not to Burn
  Curriculum.
• As part of the research and education aspect of
  their mission, the NFPA is interested in learning
  peoples fire escape habits and perceptions in
  order to aid in public affairs and announcements.
• Specific Objectives of this research are
• To gather information about peoples attitudes
  concerning planning for, and escaping from, fire
  both in their homes and in public places.
• To test the publics knowledge about fire
  escaping issues, such as time needed to escape in
  the event of a fire and whether smoke or flames
  are more deadly.
• To gauge the publics awareness of causes of home
  fires.
• To understand the publics attitudes toward home
  fire sprinkler systems and usage of candles in
  the home.

4
Sample and Method

• Sample
• A representative sample of United States
  residents was purchased.
• Sample specifications include
• male or female head of household
• Method
• All interviews were conducted by telephone using
  computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).
• Interviews were conducted at Burkes national
  telephone center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Interviewing dates were December 1st through
  December 5th, 1999.
• A total of 500 interviews was completed.

5
Analysis Notes

• Significance Testing
• Significance tests are provided where data is
  contrasted between two groups.
• Technical Notes
• Significance tests are two-tailed tests at the
  95 level of confidence. This means that
  differences above or below a specific measure can
  be detected.
• Unless specified as such, all significance
  findings are at the 95 confidence Level.
• If an observation is significant at the 95 level
  of confidence, it means that if there is in fact
  a difference in the total population, then due to
  statistical variation and sampling error, one
  would expect to identify that observation as
  significant 95 out of 100 times.

6
Management Summary
7
Management Summary

• Smoke Detectors
• Almost all people claim to have a smoke detector.
  However, based on first thoughts and actions,
  people are not overly concerned when their smoke
  detectors go off.
• The largest percentage of people reported that
  when their detector went off, their first thought
  was that they burned some food. Few respondents
  indicated that at first, they thought there may
  be a fire and that they should get out of the
  building.
• Most respondents tried to stop the detector from
  going off by clearing the smoke from it or
  dismantling the detector itself.
• Actual reasons given for a smoke detector going
  off include cooking smoke or steam, household
  smoke or steam or a low battery.
• Fire Escape Planning
• About three out of five people claim to have an
  escape plan, which is up somewhat from 1997.
• Only about two out of five respondents have ever
  practiced their escape plan. This number is up
  11 from 1997.

8
Management Summary

• Reasons for not having or practicing an escape
  plan suggest that people believe it to be a low
  priority. The top responses include
• Never thought about it
• No need to
• Dont have time/Too lazy
• If a normal escape route is blocked, three out of
  four people report that they would jump or drop
  out of a window, balcony, or deck.
• Fire Escape Situations
• Nearly three out of every ten people believe that
  if a fire were to start in their living room they
  would have 10 minutes or longer before conditions
  in their bedroom would become life-threatening.
  On average people believe it would take about
  seven and a half minutes, which is up from 1997.
• On average, people believe that they can leave a
  pan on the stove in the kitchen to go to another
  room for over four and half minutes before a fire
  could break out and become life threatening.
• People also believe that on average they can
  leave a pan on the stove in the kitchen to go
  outside for over three and half minutes before a
  fire could break out and become life threatening.

9
Management Summary

• Use of Candles in the Home
• More than three out of four people report that
  they use candles in their home.
• Placing candles too close to flammable items,
  leaving them unattended, and poor candle holder
  support are listed by people as the top unsafe
  uses for candles.
• Fire Sprinkler Systems for the Home
• Nearly half of respondents had never heard of
  fire sprinkler systems for the home when
  surveyed.
• Almost all thought that fire sprinkler systems
  would be effective in saving lives in the event
  of a home fire, and almost two-thirds would
  consider installing a sprinkler system if they
  were building a home.
• Firefighters are the most trusted information
  source concerning fire sprinkler systems for the
  home, by a wide margin.

10
Management Summary

• Fire Escape Scenarios/Risk/Precautions
• About one out of ten respondents report having
  had a fire in the home that required the
  assistance of the fire department.
• When asked what they would do in the hypothetical
  situation that their smoke alarm goes off in the
  middle of the night
• Roughly two of five people believe that they
  would leave the house immediately, down
  significantly from nearly two-thirds in 1997.
• More than half said they would investigate the
  source of the smoke, up from about one-third in
  1997.
• As in 1997, almost all people believe smoke to be
  more deadly than fire.
• A majority of people identify smoking related
  materials such as cigars, pipes, electrical
  problems and cooking equipment as the top causes
  for fatal home fires.

11
Detailed Findings
12
Smoke Detectors In the Home

• Almost all people (95) claim to have a smoke
  detector in their home.
• A significantly higher percentage of those with a
  greater number of people living in the dwelling
  (3 vs. 1-2) have a smoke detector (99 vs. 92).
• A significantly higher percentage of those with
  children in the household have a smoke detector
  in their home (99 vs. 93).
• Of those who do not have a smoke detector, more
  than half (54) have considered installing one.

Base 500
Do Not Have a Smoke Detector 5
Base 24
Have a Smoke Detector 95
Caution small base (n
13
Reason Smoke Detector Went Off

• Of those who have a smoke detector in the home,
  37 reported that they had a smoke detector go
  off in their home in the past 12 months. When
  asked why the smoke detector went off, the
  following responses were given

Battery Failure/ Low Battery 5
Cooking, Household smoke or steam 79
Alarm Test 5
Other/Dont Know 8
Candles/Candle Smoke 2
Smoke from a real/ unwanted fire 1
Base 174
14
First Thought When Smoke Detector Went Off

• The largest percentage of respondents (40) at
  first thought were unconcerned as they knew what
  caused the detector to sound. Sixteen percent
  (16) thought they had burned food.
• Only 8 of the people first thought that a fire
  had started and that they should get out of the
  building.

No concern/ Know cause 40
All Other 12
Burned Food (Again) 16
Low Battery 3
Annoyance/Nuisance 7
Wondered What It Was 5
Fire/ Get Out 8
Smoke Alarm Works 5
How To Turn Alarm Off 7
Base 174
15
First Action When Smoke Detector Went Off

• More than one out of every six (18) people
  stopped their smoke alarm by dismantling it. Over
  half (53) took action necessary to clear the
  smoke from the detector. These actions include
  waving a hand or magazine, turning on a fan, or
  opening a door or window. Only 5 left the house
  immediately or called 911.

Replaced/ Checked Battery 8
Dismantled/ Took Battery out of Detector 18
Left House/ Called 911 5
Investigated/ Fought Fire 7
Nothing 3
Stopped Detector by Clearing Smoke 53
All others/Dont know 5
Base 174
16
Fire Escape Planning

• Respondents were asked whether they have an
  actual escape plan to follow in the
• event of a fire. The following page reveals
• 60 of all respondents claim to have an escape
  plan, up from 53 in 1997.
• A significantly higher percentage of those 35
  years or older have an escape plan than those
  younger than 35 (63 vs. 47).
• Of those who claim to have an escape plan, 42
  have practiced it, up from 31 in 1997. In total,
  25 of people have an escape plan and have
  practiced it, compared to 16 in 1997.
• A significantly higher percentage of those with
  three or more members in the household than those
  with less than three have a plan (66 vs. 56)
  and claim to have practiced it (48 vs. 35). The
  percentage of those reporting they have practiced
  their plan is up for both groups by about ten
  percentage points from 1997.
• Those with children in the home are more likely
  to have practiced their escape plan than those
  without children in the home (48 vs. 36)
• Of those who have not practiced their escape
  plan, most reasons given for why relate to the
  idea that practicing is a low priority (never
  thought about it, plan is easy/no need to, dont
  have time, too lazy).
• Thirty-nine percent (39) of all respondents
  claim to not have an escape plan - this is down
  from 47 in 1997.

17
Have A Plan To Follow In Event Of A Fire

• Nearly four out of ten respondents (39) report
  that they have no plan to safely escape their
  home in the event of a fire. Subgroup analysis
  finds that
• Those respondents 34 years or younger are
  significantly less likely to have an escape plan
  than those 35-49 years old or those over 50. (47
  vs. 63 64)
• Those with 1-2 people in the home are
  significantly less likely to have a plan than
  those with 3 or more people in the home (56 vs.
  66)

Have a Fire Escape Plan
34 Years old or Younger 47 vs. 50 years old
or Older 64
No 39
1-2 People in Household 56 vs. 3 or more
People in Household 66
Yes 60
Base 500
18
Habits and Attitudes about Plan Practice

• Only 42 of respondents report having practiced
  an escape plan in the event of a
• fire in the home.
• Of those reporting that they have not practiced
  their plan, most of the reasons
• given are due to the escape plan being a low
  priority concern.

Ever Practiced Plan
Never thought about it 26 Plan is easy/no need
to 19 Dont have time/too lazy 9 Home is easy
to get out of 9 Live alone/only with adult
6 Too dangerous/destructive 6 Not necessary
3 All others 12 Dont Know 12
Yes 42
No 58
Base 302
19
Have A Plan To Follow In Event Of A Fire

• In total, 60 of people claim to have a plan.
  Subgroup analysis finds that
• Females are slightly more likely than males to
  have one.
• People with children in their homes are more
  likely to have a plan than those without.
• No real differences are seen based on income
  level or on level of education. In fact, 64 of
  respondents with high school education or less
  report they have an escape plan, up significantly
  from 48 in 1997. The level for those with some
  college or more is essentially unchanged from
  1997.

Base total 500 Subgroup minimum 192
Male

45K

Female
No
Yes
College
Total
Gender
Income
Presence of Children
Education
20
Practice Escape Route

• In total, 42 of people having a plan claim to
  have practiced it, up from 31 in 1997. Subgroup
  analysis finds that
• Males are about as likely as females to have
  practiced an escape plan.
• Households with children are significantly more
  likely to have practiced than those without.
• As in 1997, people with household incomes of at
  least 45,000 a year are more likely
• than those with less to have practiced.
• People who have attended college are about as
  likely to have practiced their escape plan
• as those with a high school diploma or less.

Base Have an escape plan - Total 302
Subgroup minimum 192
Female
Male
Yes
No

45K

College
Presence of Children
Gender
Income
Education
Total
21
How To Get Out Of Home If Normal Route Blocked

• All respondents were asked what they would do if
  a fire started in their house and the normal
  escape route was blocked.
• Three out of four people (74) claim they would
  jump or drop from a window, balcony, or deck,
  down from 81 in 1997.
• Eighteen percent (18) believe they could get out
  through another door, up slightly from 1997.

Base 500
Jump/Drop From Window, Balcony, or Deck
Alternate Door
Normal Way/ Fire Escape
22
Response to Hypothetical Situation Alarm Goes
Off in the Middle of the Night

• Respondents were asked what they would do in the
  hypothetical situation that their
• smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night.
• Roughly two out of five (39) believe that they
  would leave the house immediately, down from 63
  in 1997.
• About one-third (56) would investigate the
  source of the smoke, up from about one-third
  (34) in 1997.
• A significantly higher percentage of females than
  males said they would leave the house immediately
  (44 vs. 31) and females would be significantly
  less likely to investigate the source of the fire
  than males (62 vs. 51).

Base 500 Multiple responses accepted
1997
1999
Leave The House Immediately
Wake Others
Call 911/ Use Fire Precautions
Gather Belongings
Investigate/ Fight Fire
23
Length of Time After A Fire Starts In Living
Room, Conditions In Bedroom Would Be Deadly

• Respondents were asked, If a fire started in the
  living room, how much time do you think you would
  have before the conditions in your bedroom became
  life-threatening or deadly?
• On average, people believe it would take over
  seven and half minutes before conditions in the
  bedroom would become life threatening, up more
  than 2 minutes from 1997.

Average Length of Time Believed in 1999 7
Minutes, 34 Seconds in 1997 5 Minutes, 26
Seconds
Base 500
24
Length of Time After A Fire Starts In Living
Room, Conditions In Bedroom Would Be Deadly

• A cumulative view of the length of time people
  believe it would take reveals that
• 28 of people believe a living room fire could
  produce life-threatening conditions in a bedroom
  in 2 minutes or less, down from 42 in 1997.
• 29 believe they will have 10 minutes or more
  before life-threatening conditions develop, up
  from 24 in 1997.

Base 500
29 of people think it would take 10 minutes or
longer!
Percent of People
28
46
15 Minutes
20 Minutes
30 Minutes
45 Minutes
2 Minutes
10 Minutes
Percentage of people believing it would take
longer than...
25
Length of Time Could Leave Kitchen For Another
Room Before Possibility of a Pan Fire When Cooking

• Respondents were asked, If you are cooking food
  in an open pan on top of the stove, how long do
  you think you can leave the kitchen, and go to
  another room, before you would worry about the
  possibility of a pan fire?
• On average, people believe it would take over
  four and a half minutes before conditions in the
  kitchen would become life threatening.
• Those with one or two people in the household
  reported an average time that was significantly
  higher than those with 3 or more household
  members.
• Respondents 34 and younger were also answered
  with significantly longer time periods than those
  50 and older.
• Those with an escape plan reported an average
  time that was significantly lower than those
  without an escape plan.

Average Length of Time Believed 4 Minutes, 31
Seconds
34 Years old or Younger 6 Minutes, 51
Seconds vs 50 years old or Older 3 Minutes, 37
Seconds
Base 500
26
Length of Time Could Leave Kitchen To Go Outside
Before Possibility of a Pan Fire When Cooking

• Respondents were asked, If you are cooking food
  in an open pan on top of the stove, how long do
  you think you can leave the kitchen, and go
  outside, before you would worry about the
  possibility of a pan fire?
• On average, people believe it would take over
  three and a half minutes before a fire in the
  kitchen would become life threatening, down a
  full minute from 1997.
• Those with an escape plan reported an average
  time that was significantly lower than those
  without an escape plan.
• Respondents 34 and younger were also answered
  with significantly longer time periods than those
  50 and older.

Average Length of Time Believed 3 Minutes, 31
Seconds
34 Years old or Younger 5 Minutes, 5
Seconds vs 50 years old or Older 2 Minutes, 52
Seconds
Base 500
27
Use of Candles in the Home

• More than three out of four respondents (78)
  report that they use candles in their home.
• Those with children in the household are
  significantly more likely to use candles in
• the home than those without children in the
  household (84 vs. 75).
• Those respondents 50 or older are significantly
  less likely to use candles than
• those 35 to 49 years old or younger than 35
  (72 to 81 and 88).
• Respondents in the upper income bracket are more
  likely to be candle users than
• those in the lower income bracket (83 to
  74).
• Respondents with some college are more likely to
  be candle users than those with
• a high school education or less (83 to 72).

Use of Candles in the Home
No 21
Dont know 1
Yes 78
Base 500
28
Unsafe Uses of Candles in the Home

• Top responses from respondents concerning unsafe
  uses of candles were placement near flammable
  items, leaving candles unattended, and inadequate
  candle holder support.
• Those with children in the household are more
  likely than those without children in the
  household to cite leaving candles unattended as
  unsafe (45 to 34).
• Respondents younger than 35 are more likely than
  those 50 or older to state leaving them
  unattended (49 vs. 33).
• Respondents younger than 35 are also more likely
  than those 50 or over to cite falling asleep with
  candles burning as an example of an unsafe use of
  candles (12 to 1).
• Those with children in the household are more
  likely than those without children in the
  household to state falling asleep with candles
  burning as a hazard (8 vs. 3).

Placing too close to combustibles
Leaving them unattended
Inadequate candle holder support
Using them around children or pets
Burning them down to low
Falling asleep with them burning
As luminaries
All others
Base 500
29
Awareness and Perceived Effectiveness of Home
Fire Sprinkler Systems

• Respondents were read a description of a fire
  protection sprinkler system for the home. They
  were then asked if they had ever heard of such a
  system and how effective they thought it would
  be.

How Effective?
Not Aware Prior To Survey 48
Aware Prior To Survey 51
Very Effective
Not Very Effective
Not At All Effective
Somewhat Effective
Dont Know 1
Base 500
30
Consideration of Home Fire Sprinkler System
Installation

• Respondents indicating they thought home fire
  sprinkler systems were either very effective or
  somewhat effective were asked if they would
  consider installing a sprinkler system if they
  were building a new home.

Reasons for Not Considering
No, Would Not Consider 32
Yes, Would Consider 64
Dont Know 5
Base 146
Base 457
31
Degree of Trust Concerning Informationabout Home
Fire Sprinklers Systems

• Respondents were asked how much they would trust
  the following individuals or organization to give
  them reliable information about home fire
  sprinkler systems.
• Firefighters garnered far and away the greatest
  amount of trust.

A lot
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
Building Supply Store
Home Building Media
Friend/ Relative
Fire- fighter
Home Builder
Realtor
Base 500
32
Fire in the Home Requiring Fire Department
Intervention

• Eleven percent of respondents stated that they
  had experienced a fire in their home severe
  enough for the fire department to be needed.
• Those over 50 years of age are significantly more
  likely than those 34 or younger to have had a
  fire in their home where the fire department
  responded (15 vs. 6).

Ever Had Fire In Home Where Fire Department
Responded
Have Had A Fire 11
Have Not Had A Fire 89
Base 500
33
Smoke Or Flames More Deadly

• Respondents were asked which they thought was
  more deadly, smoke or flames.
• An overwhelming percentage (89) believe smoke to
  be more deadly than flames.
• A significantly higher percentage of those
  respondents 34 or younger think flames are more
  deadly than smoke (8 vs. 3).

Base 500
Equally Dangerous 6
Smoke 89
Flames 4
34
Top Causes of Fatal Home Fires First Mention

• Respondents were asked what the top cause for
  fatal home fires was.
• More than a quarter (28) of respondents first
  mention was something related to smoking such as
  a cigar, cigarette, matches or lighters.
• A significantly higher percentage of those 50
  years old or older mention heating equipment such
  as a fireplace, furnace or space heater problem
  than do people 34 or younger (14 vs. 5).

Base 500 Multiple responses accepted
Smoking Materials
Cooking Equipment
Heating Equipment
Other Causes
Electrical Problem
Total mentions
First mention