Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

This note reviews the causes of fires in dwellings during the twelve years 1950-1961. The frequency of all fires in dwellings increased by a factor of 1.4 in the period. Increases occurred in fires due to almost all causes, the most notable being in those due to oil lamps and stoves and those due to electric cooking appliances. Decreases were noted in the fires caused by open fireplaces and gas appliances other than cookers.