There are an estimated 38,000 fires at industrial or manufacturing properties reported to U.S. fire departments each year, with associated annual losses of 16 civilian deaths, 273 civilian injuries, and $1.2 billion in direct property damage. Most of these fires (71%) occurred in outside or unclassified locations, with another 20% taking place in structures and 9% of the fires in vehicles.

The 20% of fires taking place in structures accounted for the largest shares of losses in all categories -49% of civilian deaths, 80% of civilian injuries, and 67% of direct property damage. Preventing fires should be a top priority for any business and everyone needs to be involved.

To help prevent fires, here are some tips to reduce your risk:

• Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.
• Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffeemaker, toaster, space heater, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
• Small electrical equipment should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used.
• Use ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to reduce the risk of shock. GFCIs shut off an electrical circuit when it becomes a shock hazard. They should be installed inside in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements. All outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected.
• Test GFCIs once a month according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
• You do not need a flame to start a fire. Fires can start when heat builds up near things that burn. This can happen when a hot light bulb is near things that burn, such as cloth, paper, or a cord has been placed under a carpet.
• Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets.
• Extension cords are intended for temporary use. Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don't have to use extension cords.
• Use a light bulb with the right number of watts. There should be a sticker that indicates the right number of watts.
• Do not throw expired batteries in the trash or recycle bins. Lithium and lithium-ion batteries can start fires if damaged and 9-volt batteries can start fires if the contacts (located at the same end) touch anything made of metal.
• Cover battery contacts prior to storage and find a partner who can assist with proper recycling.
  

For easy-to-read tip sheets in multiple languages on fire prevention from the National Fire Prevention Association, click here. For informational videos of fire safety prevention and response from the ReMA studios, click here.