Unhoused Population Fires

Unhoused Population Fires

Ian Morelan, Ph.D.

Research Analyst, Analytics & Intelligence Unit

Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal

Background

• What data do we have?• Covered today:

• Structure: Tent• Basic Property Use: excluding single or multifamily residences-OR-• Incident type:

• Outside rubbish, trash or waste fire; • Outside rubbish fire, other

• Basic Property Use: excluding single or multifamily residences• No state code for outside unhoused living areas (yet)• Portland started designating fires as “Homeless” or “Not

Homeless” in 2019• Bend also has designation

Defining the problem

Tent fires reports are rapidly increasing

• Circled points occur after Portland F&R relaxed reporting requirements to designate a fire as a tent fire

• Likely still underestimated!

Winter rubbish fires are steadily increasing• Seasonal pattern

• Steady increase in winter rubbish fires• Heating or

cooking near flammable structures?

• Probably not an ideal indicator of unhoused population fires

Tent Fire Heat Sources

• Heat sources are poorly characterized

Tent Fire Items First Ignited

• Items first ignited are also poorly characterized

Incident Primary Narratives

• Propane and trailer are high frequency words in tent fires where injuries are reported

• Homeless, transient, or camp mentioned in 32 tent fires and 618 rubbish fires since 2015

Next steps• Work to improve reporting for fires in areas where

unsheltered individuals are living• In progress: Develop a survey and potential NFIRS plus-one

codes for unhoused fires• Possible additional location field

• Ask for Bend and Portland to share data about fires in unhoused living areas

• Consider messaging and programs about safe propane usage in unhoused areas

Discussion / Questions?

Time Change & Smoke Alarm Messaging

1OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL | Oregon State Police | 503-934-8228 | oregon.gov/osp/sfm | [email protected] | fb.com/OregonStateFireMarshal | twitter.com/OSFM

Step 1 of 3: Oregon

• Oregon passed Senate Bill 320

• Adopts Permanent Daylight Savings Time

• Effective the first Sunday of the first November AFTER CA & WA adopt• Exempts Malheur County (Mountain

Time)

• Deadline 2029


Step 2 of 3: West Coast

Washington• Passed House Bill 1196 and signed 2019

California• Referendum passed by 62% of voters (2018)• Assembly Bill 7 died in committee (2021)• Plans to re-introduce


Step 3 of 3: Congress

• Act of Congress to overturn the Uniform Time Act (1966)

• Sunshine Protection Act (2021) did not progress beyond introduction

• Possibility for reintroduction in the future

• Standard time would have required no act of Congress (Calder Act 1918/Uniform Time 1966)

• Hawaii, Arizona, and Indiana


Conclusion about the law

• It might be a while before this change is implemented.


Survey Results


Smoke Alarm Messaging

New Year's Day Easter/Halloween Birthday

Day you were born (Every month) Valentine's Day Nationally Recognized Days

Fire Prevention Week/Month Change of Season Memorial & Veterans Days

Independence Day April 1st Other

Most popular

• New Year’s Day (48 respondents)• Fire Prevention Week (42 respondents)• April 1st (33 respondents)• Change of Seasons (27 respondents)


Concerns Raised

• Holidays are busy and highly scheduled• Not inclusive (Not everyone celebrates the

same holidays)• Detracts from the holiday’s intent/purpose• Battery change vs testing gets confused• Sealed units don’t need new batteries


Smoke Alarm Messaging

Please respond to the poll (2 questions)Question 1: Options

• Continue using time change messaging until Congress acts

• Switch to new messaging regardless

Question 2: Messaging• Which of the four most popular do you

prefer? (Choose 1)


Educational Messaging: NFPA & Oregon


NFPA Educational Messaging

Past• It did not meet Oregon’s needs• Oregon created its own separate

messaging standards


NFPA Educational Messaging

Present• Recent update by NFPA• Many of the requests for revisions have been

made• Having a separate Oregon messaging guide

would be a lot of resources for little reward

Decision: Use NFPA messaging with occasional positions papers created as needed.


Fire Prevention Month 2021


Fire Prevention Week

• NFPA: Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety

• Oregon twist: What is your smoke alarm saying?

• Focus: battery, end of life, nuisance, “Then what?”


Fire Prevention Week: Social MediaSocial media campaign

• Hashtag: #KnowYourBleepingAlarm• Videos• Comic strips• Memes• Advertising on Spotify, Facebook,

YouTube, etc.


Fire Prevention Week: Educational Materials

Educational Materials• Brochures/flyers• Video• Youth Webinar Series:

•Sept 8: Getting the Most out of Fire Prevention Month

•Oct 13: Fire Prevention Month Spotlight


Fire Prevention Month: Swag

Swag: available for pre-order in late August/arriving in late September

• Coasters• Sticky Note Pads• Pens• Lollipops• Items for giveaways• Brochures


Draft SWAG Image


United States CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

Real Flame Recalls Arroyo and Hideaway Wood Burning Fire Pits Due to Fire Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Crate and Barrel (Recall Alert)

Recall Summary

Name of product: Arroyo and Hideaway Wood Burning Fire Pits

Hazard: Wood stored under the unit can ignite, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy: Refund

Recall date:

July 15, 2021

Units: About 700 (In addition, about 81 in Canada)

Consumer Contact:

Real Flame at 800-654-1704 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.realflame.com and click "Support" for more information.


Kidde Recalls TruSense Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms Due to Risk of Failure to Alert Consumers to a Fire

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Recall Summary

Name of product: Kidde TruSense Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/Carbon

Monoxide Alarms

Hazard: The smoke alarm and the combination smoke/carbon monoxide (CO)

alarm can fail to alert consumers to a fire.

Remedy: Replace

Recall date: May 6, 2021

Units: About 226,000

Consumer Contact:

Kidde toll-free at 844-796-9972 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET on Saturday or onli ne at www.kiddetsalarmrecall.rsvpcomm.com or www.kidde.com and click on "Support" and then "Product Alerts" for more information.

Recall Details Description: This recall involves Kidde TruSense Smoke Alarms and Combination

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide AJarms. The recalled units are Kidde Model Series

2040, 2050, 2060 and 2070 Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide

alarms. Only alarms with the TruSense logo or ,. AMBER=FAUL r printed on the

front of the alarm are induded in this recall. The model number is printed on the

back of the alarm.

Model Alarm Type

2040-DSR Smoke

2050-OS10 Smoke

2060-ASR Smoke

2070-VDSCR Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide

2070-VASCR Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide

2070-VDSR Smoke

2070-VASR Smoke

Remedy: Consumers should immediately contact Kidde for a free replacement alarm.

Consumers should keep using the recalled alarms until they install replacement

alarms.

Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported.

Sold At: Walmart, Home Depot, Menards and other department, home and hardware stores

and electrical distributors nationwide, and online at Amazon.com, ShopKidde.com

and other online retailers from May 2019 through September 2020 for between

$10 and $70.

lmporter(s): Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Company Inc., of Mebane, N.C.

Manufactured In: China

Recall number: 21-130

Choose Your Recall Emails


HSN Recalls 5.4 Million Handheld Clothing Steamers Due to Serious Burn Hazard

Recall Summary

Name of product: Joy/JM-branded My Little Steamer® and My Little Steamer® Go Mini

Hazard: The recalled clothing steamers can expel, spray, or leak hot water

during use, posing a serious burn hazard to consumers.

Remedy: Refund

Recall date:

May 26, 2021

Units: About 5.4 million (In addition, 14,300 were distributed in Canada)

Consumer Contact:

HSN toll-free at 855-654-0942 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.SteamerRecallSettlement.com or www.hsn.com and click on Recall Information for more information.

Recall Details In Conjunction With:

Description: This recall involves Joy/JM-branded My Little Steamer and My Little Steamer Go

Mini handheld clothing steamers. The steamers are handheld electrical appliances

(120V, 60Hz, 900w), which use hot steam, emitted from a nozzle head to remove

wrinkles from garments and other fabrics. The steamers were sold in two sizes:

the standard (or deluxe) full-size My Little Steamer or the compact-size My Little

Steamer Go Mini. The steamers were sold individually or in combination sets in a

variety of colors, including black, white, red, purple, and teal. Recalled models

have either a flat or triangular steamer head, and the name of the product is

printed on the side of the unit.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled clothing steamers and

contact HSN for information about how to receive a full refund for units purchased

from January 2018 to December 2020, a partial refund for units purchased from

January 2015 to December 2017, or a voucher for units purchased before January

2015.

Incidents/Injuries: HSN has received 227 reports of hot water spraying or leaking from the steamers,

including 106 reports of burn injuries. These reports include eight reports of

second-degree burns and six reports of third-degree burns.

Sold At:

Online at HSN.com and on the HSN television network. They were also sold in

stores nationwide, or online at various retailers, including Amazon, Target, Bed

Bath & Beyond, Walmart, and Lowes from January 2002 through December 2020

for between $10 and $30 individually and between $20 and $50 in combination

sets.

lmporter(s): Ingenious Designs LLC, of Ronkonkoma, N.Y. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSN

since 1999)

Manufactured In: China




Cove Appliance Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard

Recall Summary

Name of product: Cove Appliance 24-inch built-in dishwashers

Hazard: The heating element in the dishwasher can fail to properly shut off and

can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy: Repair

Recall date: June 16, 2021

Units: About 42,000

Consumer Contact:

Cove Appliance toll-free at 888-651-9376 from 8:30 a.m.to 5 p.m .. CT Monday through Friday, e-mail at [email protected] or online at coveappliance.com/recall or at www.coveaggliance.com and click "learn more" in the safety recall section for more information.

Recall Details Description: This recall involves Cove Appliance 24-inch built-in residential dishwashers model

numbers DW2450 and DW2450WS. The recalled dishwashers have serial

numbers 20000100 through 20044445. The model number, serial number and date

code are printed on the product rating plate located inside the dishwasher. "Cove"

is printed on the outside of the door and on the far right side of the control panel,

located on the top of the unit's door.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dishwashers, unplug them

from their power source, and contact Cove Appliance to schedule a free repair.

Cove Appliance will install a second thermal protection device and replace the

dishwasher•s heating element.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received five reports of burning smells, flames and smoking inside the

dishwashers. No injuries have been reported.

Sold At: Home appliance stores nationwide from February 2018 through May 2021 for

between $2,400 and $2,500.

Manufacturer(s): Cove Appliance Inc., of Madison, Wis.

Manufactured In: United States




Fisher-Price Recalls 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soothers After Four Inf ant Deaths; 2-in-1 Soothe 'n Play Gliders Also Recalled

Recall Summary

Name of product: Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soothers and 2-in-1 Soothe 'n Play Gliders

Hazard:

Infants who are placed unrestrained in the product and later found on

their stomach are at risk of suffocation.

Remedy: Refund

Recall date: June 3, 2021

Consumer Contact:

Fisher-Price online at www.service.mattel.com, and click on "Recall & Safety Alerts," or toll-free at 855-853-6224 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for more information.

Recall Details In Conjunction With:

Description: Washington, D.C. -The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and

Fisher-Price are announcing the recalls of the Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide

Soothers and 2-in-1 Soothe 'n Play Gliders. There have been reports of four infant

deaths in the 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soother. The infants were reportedly placed on

their backs unrestrained in the product and later found on their stomachs. These

incidents occurred between April 2019 and February 2020. The fatalities were a 4-

month old from Missouri, a 2-month old from Nevada, a 2-month old from Michigan

and an 11-week old from Colorado. There have been no fatalities in the 2-in-1

Soothe 'n Play Gliders.

"These types of incidents are heart-breaking," said Acting Chairman Robert Adler.

"Loving parents put their babies in these products never expecting a tragedy.

Inclined products, such as gliders, soothers, rockers and swings are not safe for

infant sleep, due to the risk of suffocation."

"There is nothing more important to Fisher-Price than the safety of our products

and the trust that families put in us," said Chuck Scothon, General Manager of

Fisher-Price. 'These incidents are indeed heart-breaking. We are committed to

educating parents and caregivers on the safe use of all of our products, including

the importance of following all warnings and instructions to ensure the health and

safety of babies and children."

This recall involves CHP56, CHP55 and CBT81 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soothers.

This recall also involves the GDD28, GDD39, GDD41, GGW85, GNX43, GVG43,

HBD26 and HBD27 of the 2-in-1 Soothe 'n Play Gliders. HBT17 is sold in Canada

only. The products have two use modes: A powered glider seat and an infant

rocker. In both modes, the product can move in a head-to-toe or side-to-side

motion. The model number is located on the underside of the base.

Approximately 120,000 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soothers and 55,000 2-in-1 Soothe 'n

Play Gliders were sold at juvenile product stores and mass merchandisers

nationwide and online, including Walmart and Target stores and Amazon.com.

The 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soothers were sold from January 2014 through

December 2020, for about $108. The 2-in-1 Soothe 'n Play Gliders were sold from

November 2018 through May 2021, for about $125.

Approximately 25,000 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soothers and approximately 27,000 2-

in-1 Soothe 'n Play Gliders were also distributed in Canada.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and contact

Fisher-Price for a refund. To obtain a refund, consumers should visit Fisher-Price

online at www.service.mattel.com, and click on "Recall & Safety Alerts," or call toll

free at 855-853-6224 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

CPSC continues to emphasize that the best place for a baby to sleep is on a firm,

flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard. Parents and caregivers should never

add blankets, pillows or other items to an infant's sleeping environment. Babies

should always be placed to sleep on their backs.



Unhoused Population Fires

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