The UCONN Fire Department would like to wish everyone a safe and fun Halloween. Below are some safety tips that can be helpful during this time:
Halloween Fire Safety Tips
Research shows that Halloween, including the so-called “Devil’s Night,” has about 60 percent more incendiary and suspicious structure fires than on an average day.
- All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant.
- If students are going out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags to make sure they are visible.
- Use caution crossing the street as vehicular traffic might not see you in the dark costume.
- Do not use open flame costume props.
- Use a flashlight after dark.
- Do not go out alone, stay with friends.
- If you are going to a Halloween party, make sure there are two clear ways out of the building.
- Parties in basements with large crowds and open flames are particularly dangerous and should be avoided.
- Remember, if your, or a friends Halloween costume catches fire, STOP, DROP and ROLL!
Halloween Fire Safety Statistics
- According to the S. Fire Administration, an estimated 10,300 fires were reported in the U.S. over a three-day period around Halloween from 2011-2013. These caused an estimated 25 deaths, 125 injuries and $83 million in property loss.
- 38 percent of fires during Halloween happen outside (bonfires, candles, sparklers), while 33 percent are residential.
- Fires tend to occur during dinner hours from 5 to 7 p.m. and in the early morning hours from 4 to 7 a.m.
- Leading cause of Halloween residential fires is cooking (44 percent), heating (15 percent), unintentional carless actions (7 percent), open flame (6 percent), electrical malfunction (6 percent) and intentional actions (5 percent).
- Open flame fires increases by 50% over this period, largely due to the increased use of candles.