This week Fire Prevention Week is October 5 through 11, and its theme: Working Smoke Alarm Saves Lives.

We at The Beattie Law Firm have talked about the importance of installing not only smoke detectors in your home, but also carbon monoxide detectors as well as gas detectors. Installing these detectors is the first line of defense when a fire occurs in your home – reducing the risk of a fatality in your home by more than 50 percent.

What do you need to know about home fires?

· In 2011, US fire departments responded to 370,000 home structure fires, causing 13,910 civilian injuries and 2,520 deaths.

· Cooking is the leading cause of home fire injuries, followed by heating equipment.

As we approach more consistent cold weather here in Iowa – and some say this may be the harshest winter yet – you must remember home fires are more prevalent this time of year due to varied heating sources, holiday cooking and baking, and the use of candles. But not only do people have a greater risk of house fires in the winter season, carbon monoxide incidents are also more common.

Why are carbon monoxide incidents common in colder months?

Carbon monoxide becomes more prevalent when fuel heating sources and cooking equipment burn incompletely. Vehicles or generators running in attached garages may also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Remember that carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer, and its presence cannot be detected without a detector.

Your life can be saved when you have working detectors in your home.

If you have any questions regarding an incident involving a fire or carbon monoxide, The Beattie Law Firm is skilled in such cases. You may call us for a free consultation at 515-263-1000.