Winter Fire Safety in Maryland – Heating, Candles & Stove Tops
A tragic house fire in Westminster on Thursday left a mother and her two sons potentially homeless and in need of medical treatment. The mother suffered second and third degree burns on about one third of her body, and is in critical condition at Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center. Her two sons, ages 18 months and 8 years old, were treated for smoke inhalation at Carroll Hospital Center but were fortunate to avoid being burned. The Baltimore Sun reports that the children have been placed with Child Protective Services for now, until another family member can be reached.
Though no cause has been determined for the fire, the fire marshal found no working smoke alarms on the property, which sustained about $150,000 in damage. It took about 50 firefighters around 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.
Winter fire safety
The National Fire Protection Agency reports that many house fires occur in winter. According to their website, some of the leading contributors are:
- Heating equipment. Sparks from a fire in a fireplace or a short circuit in an electrical space heater can cause your home to catch on fire. Make sure you never leave a fire or heater left unsupervised, and clear all debris from your fireplace and chimney before lighting a fire. Use a flame-proof rug or mat for in front of the fireplace, and keep all gas and electric space heaters in a fire-proof area.
- Candles. Whether you like the smell of pine trees at the holidays or are suffering through a black-out, candles can be dangerous when left unattended. The NRPA reports that almost 30 candle fires were reported every day between 2007 and 2011. Put out all candles when you leave the room, and keep them away from flammable objects such as curtains.
- Stove tops. Cooking fires can start any time of the year, and grease fires are particularly dangerous. Do not let your children near the stove without supervision, and make sure to clean up after you are done cooking, to remove excess grease splatters from your stove top. Keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.
We are sending our thoughts to the Westminster family, wishing for a speedy recovery of the mother. We hope that she and her two children will be reunited soon and that all three will have someplace warm and safe to go.
We have represented many burn victims and understand the seriousness of burn injuries. Plaxen Adler Muncy is a financial supporter of the Maryland Association for Justice Foundation. The Maryland Association for Justice Foundation supports projects that keep families safe such as the distribution of smoke detectors to needy families who could not otherwise afford a smoke detector. The Maryland Association for Justice Foundation is also a strong supporter and sponsor of the Baltimore City Fire Department thrill shows to raise money and educate the public.
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At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. we help Maryland burn victims obtain the help and compensation they need. For more information about our services, please contact our firm today.
Bruce Plaxen was honored as the 2009 Maryland Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Maryland Association for Justice. For more information on his legal background, please visit his attorney bio.