What Homeowners Should Know About Flammable Clothing to Avoid Injuries and Fire Damage

2/9/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Carrollton urges homeowners to wear safe clothing when around an open flame so that fire damage can be avoided.

SERVPRO of Carrollton knows firsthand the impact COVID-19 is having on the frequency of home fires and fire damage. Many people continue to work, study, cook, entertain, and play at home. With so much activity around the home, it is no wonder that residential fires have been on the rise.

Lifestyle has shifted over the last several years. Work, leisure, and entertainment are more centered around the home. Fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, grills, smokers, deep fryers, tiki torches, backyard bonfires, and intimate campfires are growing in popularity. The easing of travel restrictions and a widespread return to school and the workplace have not diminished the enjoyment friends and family experience sitting around a cozy campfire.

However, this time with loved ones comes with risks. Over 5,700 grill fires occur on residential properties each year, and almost 20,000 people per year went to hospital emergency departments suffering from injuries related to grilling or barbecues in 2014-2018. Nearly 10,000 of these injuries were burns. In 2017, an estimated 5,300 people received burns from outdoor fire pits or heaters. About one-fourth or about 1300 of these victims were children under the age of five.

For several years, outdoor fire pits and fireplaces have been favorite design elements in the residential backyard, according to surveys conducted by the prestigious American Society of Landscape Architects.

The continued popularity of outdoor cooking and casual engagements around fire means homeowners and families need to know about flammable clothing to avoid injuries and fire damage.

Grilling the evening meal and relaxing around the fire pit involves being close to an open flame. During the grilling process, cooks will often have flames licking at their hand and forearm while they reach to reposition or flip items on the grill. If the chef lingers for a moment too long, burns can be sustained on the unprotected hand and forearm. If the cook is wearing a long sleeve shirt, sweater, or jacket, the apparel could ignite, causing serious bodily injury.

Burning wood tends to generate sparks, which can ignite clothing or other flammable materials and substances. Some sparks fly upward while others pop outward from the flames. If a fire screen is in place, the onlookers are somewhat protected from sparks, but this screen must be removed to add new logs. Onlookers sitting around the fire pit are most vulnerable when the screen is removed and firewood is being added.

Caution should always be exercised whenever people are gathered around an open flame. Considering the flammability of clothing is one way that hosts and houseguests can lower the possibility of a fire damage disaster.

Tip: Know the chemical makeup of the clothing.

Some clothing and other textiles may be very flammable. While all clothing can burn, certain fabrics can be more dangerous than others. For instance, never wear acrylic clothing near the open flame of a fire pit, campfire, or bonfire. Take note of the product’s flammability, and read the manufacturer’s label or request the salesperson provide the information.

Tip: Pay attention to the structure of the piece of clothing.

The texture and structure of the material play an important part in how the piece of clothing will burn if it catches on fire. Lightweight, thin fabrics that allow a generous amount of airflow can more easily ignite, and once ignited, the clothing burns quickly. Materials manufactured with a porous, coarse, or woolly surface more readily ignite and burn than materials with a smooth, nonporous surface.

Tip: Loose-fitting and billowy clothes are a fire hazard.

Flowing, billowy clothing has an increased surface area, making it easier to come in contact with an open flame. Wide, drooping sleeves are hazardous to wear when grilling fatty foods that create large, licking flames. A flowing dress or a lightweight or trailing scarf puts the wearer at risk. Some costume designs may put children at risk if the costumes are worn near an open flame.

Tip: Wool and modacrylic are relatively safe to wear around a fire.

Thick wool does not readily ignite, and if it does catch fire, it will put itself out fairly quickly. Modacrylic is very flame-resistant.

Tip: Cotton and linen are fire hazards around an open flame.

Clothing made of cellulose fibers such as cotton, linen, and viscose are very flammable and burn very quickly unless treated with a flame retardant.

Tip: Polyester and nylon (polyamide) melt and pull away from the flame.

In combination with other fibers, nylon and polyester present a fire danger. When exposed to fire, the melting fabric can cause deep burns.

Tip: Avoid wearing acrylic while near an open flame.

Though difficult to ignite, acrylic burns vigorously, and the fibers melt and drip, causing deep burns. Acrylic should not be worn around a fire pit or bonfire.

Tip: If clothing catches on fire, immediately stop, drop, and roll.

The stop, drop, and roll protocol cuts off the airflow to the clothing, readily extinguishing any flames.

The professionals at SERVPRO of Carrollton encourage homeowners to be careful when grilling or enjoying time around a fire pit or bonfire. If fire damage occurs, the SERVPRO team is available 24/7, 365 days a year, to provide a rapid response. Prompt response times enable the fire damage restoration process to begin immediately, reduce secondary damage, and return life to normal as quickly as possible. SERVPRO of Carrollton can handle the insurance claims process from beginning to end, relieving the homeowner or business of the headache.

For more information about fire damage cleanup in Dallas, TX, and surrounding areas, contact the office by phone at (972) 446-0383 or by email at office@SERVPRO10952.com