Home Fire Safety: Advice from Latvia's State Fire and Rescue Service
Sandra Vējiņa, a senior inspector at Latvia's State Fire and Rescue Service, told the newspaper Ziemeļlatvija about the most common causes of home fires and how to reduce the risk. By 27 October, more than 5,000 fires had been put out in Latvia this year, and 47 people had died.
A home fire can start from something that seems trivial: a forgotten pot on the stove, a candle left burning or an uncleaned chimney. This was discussed in an interview with the regional newspaper Ziemeļlatvija by Sandra Vējiņa, a senior inspector in the Vidzeme region at the Prevention Department of Latvia's State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD), who is responsible for public information and education. Her advice is timely as the heating season begins and call-outs become more frequent.
The numbers
According to VUGD data, more than 5,000 fires had been extinguished in Latvia by 27 October. Forty-seven people died in them, while more than 300 were rescued. In Vidzeme, the service received over 700 fire call-outs. Earlier this year, two people died in a fire in Valka municipality.
Most common causes
Vējiņa says careless handling of fire has been the leading cause for several years: candles, burnt food, oven doors not closed properly, hot ashes put in a cardboard box or plastic bucket, a still-warm grill placed in a woodshed, and bonfires lit too close to a house. Faulty electrical appliances and wiring not designed for modern loads rank second. Regulations require residential wiring to be inspected every ten years, but some people skip this because it costs money.
In colder months, call-outs more often involve soot burning in chimneys and improper use of heating appliances. Soot fires can reach temperatures of several thousand degrees, which may damage the flue.
Smoke detectors
In deadly fires, people most often die from inhaling toxic smoke rather than from burns, and smouldering alone can be enough. The inspector therefore urges every home to have a working smoke detector. Simpler models usually need new batteries once a year, newer ones every two years. She recommends testing the detector monthly and clearing dust from it.
Whom to call
In a fire, people should call the single emergency number 112. The 112 Latvija app also allows calling for help by text message. Callers should immediately state where the incident is happening. Work is under way to merge 113, the emergency medical service number, into 112.
