• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Fires/Accidents/Disasters / It’s the worst time of year for house fires

It’s the worst time of year for house fires

December 29, 2014 By WRN Contributor

(PHOTO: City of Madison Fire Department)

(PHOTO: City of Madison Fire Department)

The holiday season is the most dangerous time of year for house fires.  And despite what you might think, it’s not because of those Christmas lights and candles.

Barbara Behling of the American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin says kitchen mishaps are top cause of holiday fires.  She says we’re not necessarily bad cooks — but we do tend to leave an oven on by mistake, or get pot-holders to close to the heat.  Behling says people have also been known to knock kettles over.  She says heating mistakes also generate more fires this time of year — things like using ovens as heaters, or misusing space heaters.

Behling says newer homes tend to burn faster than older ones.  That’s because the traditional lumber and construction techniques of older homes don’t burn as quickly as the glue-and-chemicals often found in newer structures.

The Red Cross is trying to reduce fire deaths by 25 percent over a five-year period, by working with partners to get more of us to have working smoke alarms. Behling said the program started in Stevens Point — which she calls a “lovely small town” with a “higher-than-average incidence of dangerous fires.”

The Red Cross program is also operating in Milwaukee, Beloit, Kaukauna, and Chippewa Falls.

WSAU

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, News



Featured Stories

House passed gun purchase background check bills last year with no support from Wisconsin Republicans

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC

 

Loading Comments...