Late Thursday, Kernersville Fire Rescue responded to a call in the 200 block of Adams Street where personnel encountered a fire in a home being remodeled. Shortly thereafter, the crew noticed another fire in a house under construction just a block away.
The first fire was ruled accidental, though the actual ignition source is still undetermined. The second fire is being investigated, but the extent of the structural damage makes it difficult for the fire department to identify a cause. Fortunately, neither house was occupied at the time.
The Kernersville Fire Rescue Department has responded to 66 structure fires so far in 2024, with nine occurring after November 1.
Recent reports of house fires in surrounding Triad communities like Belews Creek and Winston-Salem bring renewed attention to the risk of fires in the colder months.
“Usually there’s an uptick in fires when there’s colder weather because people start using alternate heating sources like gas-powered space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, and things like that. So there’s always a higher chance of having a fire if something’s not maintained properly,” Kernersville Fire and Life Safety Educator Chris Kauffman told Scope News.
The National Fire Protection Agency’s press release “December is Leading Month for U.S. Home Fires,” also cited decorations, electrical lighting, candles, and lithium-ion batteries as some of the factors contributing to increased home fires.
Still, Kauffman says the number one cause of home fires both nationally and locally is cooking. NFPA data shows Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the second- and third-leading days of the year for cooking fires. Kauffman provided tips for keeping kitchens safe this winter and beyond:
- Never leave a stovetop unattended
- Always set a timer to remind you you’re still cooking, especially now in an era with numerous digital distractions
- Keep anything combustible, like cardboard boxes, away from flame sources
- Keep a three-foot “kid-free” zone around anything cooking so children don’t burn themselves or knock something over
“But one of the biggest things that I can say is definitely making sure that you have working smoke alarms in the home,” Kauffman said, going on to reference a recent Winston-Salem fire that claimed two lives in a home without working smoke alarms.
The Kernersville Fire Rescue Department has a Smoke Alarm Request Form available for residents who need alarms installed or batteries changed in existing alarms. Units are also available for those with hearing loss.
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