Renton, Washington – Minor Injuries Reported in House Fire at Glennwood Avenue

Renton, Washington (October 24, 2019) – One person sustained minor injuries in a fire that broke out in a residence on the 1600 block of Glennwood Avenue Southeast on Thursday morning. The patient was reported to have minor injuries to their hand and face, and also suffered smoke inhalation. There were no mentions of the patient being taken to a hospital for treatment. All of the occupants were able to escape the house, though two pets have not yet been found. No other injuries have been reported in the incident.

Crews responded to the scene around 6 a.m., and found the building fully involved in flames. The blaze started in the garage and spread to the rest of the structure. Crews were able to contain the flames to one side of the house, but the structure still sustained enough damage to be rendered uninhabitable. The Red Cross is currently assisting the affected family. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

About Fire

The dangers of fire cannot be underestimated – the US Fire Administration has recorded 15 home fire fatalities this year within Washington.  Statistics from the NFPA have recorded that cooking equipment were the leading cause of home structure fires, home fire injuries, as well as being the second leading case of home fire deaths. Additionally, smoking materials are the leading case of home fire deaths, though it isn’t always the case every year. Always handle fire with wariness and see to it that fires are always extinguished after use. Remember also to assess the area where fire is going to be used and see to it that complete fire safety is practiced at all times.

Aside from cooking equipment and smoking materials, electrical causes remain to be one of the top causes for home fires according to the NFPA. Their Electrical Fire Reports to the U.S Fire Department since 2000 estimates around 45,000 to 55,000 cases of home fires being caused by electrical malfunction every year. Annual losses due to electrical fire result in 455 civilian deaths, 1, 500 civilian injuries and 1.5 billion of dollars in direct property damage. From these statistics, the risk from electrical fire is very real and should not be underestimated. As for the accidents themselves, the NFPA lists 63 percent involved wiring and related equipment, 74 percent cited some sort of electrical failure or malfunction, and wire or cable insulation was the first item ignited in 32 percent of electrical distribution or lighting equipment home structure fires. From these cases, one must always review and identify potential fire hazards and fix them to avoid damages, injuries or deaths.

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