As Temperatures Fall, Ohio Fire Marshal Highlights Low-Cost Device that Can Stop a Fire in its Tracks

COLUMBUS, Ohio - With temperatures already starting to fall and Ohioans expected to spend more time indoors, the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) is urging residents to avoid one of the state's most common fatal fire-related mistakes: smoking or getting near an open flame while utilizing a home oxygen therapy system.

According to data reported to the Division by Ohio fire departments, smoking-related fires remain the leading cause of fire fatalities statewide. In homes in which indoor smoking takes place, Ohioans face a 4% increased chance of dying and a 10% increased chance of being injured in a home fire. Since 2022, 57 Ohioans have lost their lives in smoking-related incidents, with 43% of those fatalities involving individuals smoking while using home oxygen therapy. Data shows that home structure fires in Ohio related to smoking are three times as deadly - and twice as likely to injure someone - than home fires that do not involve smoking.

"Smoking while using home oxygen is incredibly dangerous, and we're seeing the consequences far too often," said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. "We have also seen how thermal fuses can keep a bad situation from becoming deadly. We want every Ohioan who uses oxygen to know that these devices exist so they can get them installed on their systems as soon as possible."

Home Oxygen and Open Flames: A Deadline Combination

While oxygen is not flammable on its own, it dramatically increases the intensity of a fire. Even after an oxygen supply is shut off, oxygen-rich clothing, tubing, and nearby materials can ignite instantly and burn hotter, faster, and more aggressively. Because of this risk, the Division of State Fire Marshal strongly urges all Ohioans to never smoke while using medical oxygen. In addition, for those who do intend to smoke, it is critical that they completely turn off the oxygen, remove the nasal cannula, and step outdoors, far away from any oxygen equipment

The risk isn't exclusive to smokers. In fact, all oxygen users should keep all open flames, heat sources, candles, and gas appliances well away from oxygen tubing and tanks.

In addition to staying away from open flames, one of the most important steps that home oxygen therapy users can take is to have a thermal fuse installed on their system. When installed on oxygen home therapy system tubing, these inexpensive thermal fuses will stop the flow of oxygen the moment a fire is detected, quickly stopping further spread of the fire. (B-roll showing a thermal fuse in operation is available for download below.) Two thermal fuses should be installed on every home oxygen system: One directly after the oxygen delivery device (such as a nasal cannula), and another fuse at the concentrator.

How to Obtain Thermal Fuses

To date, more than 4,000 thermal fuses have been distributed to fire departments across Ohio through the Division's Thermal Fuse Program. Ohioans can obtain thermal fuses by asking their oxygen provider (often costing less than $10 each) or contacting their local fire department to see if free fuses are available through the SFM program. If assistance is needed, area firefighters will often be available to visit your home to install these devices.

CLICK HERE FOR DOWNLOADABLE SOTS
Anita Metheny (muh-THEE-nee), Fire Prevention Bureau Chief, Division of State Fire Marshal, Ohio Department of Commerce

CLICK HERE FOR DOWNLOADABLE THERMAL FUSE B-ROLL
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About the Division of State Fire Marshal
The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.