NBSIR 75-784

Fire incidents Involving

Flammable Liquids, Gas, and

Dry Explosives

Elaine A. Tyrrell

Center for Fire Research

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

October 1 975

Final

U S, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

NBSIR 75-784

FIRE INCIDENTS INVOLVING

FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, GAS, AND

DRY EXPLOSIVES

Elaine A. Tyrrell

Center for Fire Research

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20230

October 1 975

Final

U.S. DEPARTMBNJT OF COMMERCE, Rogers C.B. Morton, Secretary

James A. Baker, III, Under Secretary

Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, Assistant Secretary for Science and Tectinohffy

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Acting Director

CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF FIGURES v

LIST OF TABLES v

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. FINDINGS 3

2.1. Intermediary Material Involvement 3

2.2. Victim Involvement 3

2.2.1. Age and Sex of Persons Involved in Flammable

Liquids and Explosive Products Incidents .... 3

2.2.1.1. Selected Parameters for Children

Involved in Flammable Liquids and

Explosive Products Incidents 7 2.2.1.2. Selected Parameters for the ElderlyInvolved in Flammable Liquids and

Explosive Products Incidents 10

2.2.2. Age and Sex of Persons Involved by Intermediary

Material Category 10

2.2.2.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category. . 10

2.2.2.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile

Flammable Liquids Category 13

2.2.2.3. Gas Category 13

2.2.2.4. Dry Explosives Category 18

2.3. Ignition Sources 18

2.3.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category 18

2.3.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids

Category 23

2.3.3. Gas Category

.

23

2.3.4. Dry Explosives Category 23

2.4. Ignition-Causing Activities 24

2.4.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category 24

2.4.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable

Liquids Category 28

2.4.3. Gas Category 28

2.4.4. Dry Explosives Category 28

2.5. Known First-to-Ignite Fabric Items 29

2.5.1. Ignition Sources 29

2.5.1.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category. . 29

2.5.1.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile

Flammable Liquids Category 33

2.5.1.3. Gas Category 34

2.5.1.4. Dry Explosives Category 34

2.5.2. Age Groups and Sex 34

2.5.2.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category. . 38

2.5.2.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile

Flammable Liquids Category 38

2.5.2.3. Gas Category 39

2.5.2.4. Dry Explosives Category 39

iii
CONTENTS (cont'd)

Page

2.6. Severity of Burn Injury AO

2.6.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category 40

2.6.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable

Liquids Category " . 40

2.6.3. Gas Category 40

2.6.4. Dry Explosives Category 44

2.7. Injury Disposition ..... 44

2.7.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category 44

2.7.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable

Liquids Category 47

2.7.3. Gas Category 47

2.7.4. Dry Explosives Category 47

3. SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION 47

APPENDIX A. THE FLAMMABLE FABRICS ACCIDENT CASE AND TESTING

SYSTEM (FFACTS) 50

APPENDIX B. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM USED FOR OBTAINING IGNITION

SOURCES AND IGNITION-CAUSING ACTIVITIES 51

B.l. IGNITION SOURCES 51

B.2. IGNITION-CAUSING ACTIVITIES 52

iv
LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 1. Male and female involvement in flammable liquids

and explosive products incidents by age group.

(FFACTS, December 1973) 6

Figure 2. Male and female age distribution for flammable liquids

and explosive products incidents and for the U.S.

population (expected number of victims superimposed)

.

(FFACTS, December 1973) 9

Figure 3. Male and female age distribution for volatile flammable liquids incidents and for the U.S. population

(expected number of victims superimposed). (FFACTS,

December 1973) 12

Figure 4. Male and female age distribution for grease and other

less volatile flammable liquids incidents and for

the U.S. population (expected number of victims superimposed). (FFACTS, December 1973) 15

Figure 5. Male and female age distribution for gas incidents

and for the U.S. population (expected number of victims

superimposed). (FFACTS, December 1973) 17

Figure 6. Male age distribution for dry explosives incidents and

for the U.S. population (expected number of victims

superimposed). (FFACTS, December 1973) 20

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Distribution of Intermediary Materials for Incidents

Found in FFACTS by Categories 4

Table 2. Age and Sex Distribution of all Victims by Intermediary

Material Category (FFACTS, December 1973) 5

Table 3. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved In Flammable Liquids and Explosive Products Incidents Versus

Age Distribution for the U.S. Population (FFACTS,

December 1973) 8

Table 4. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved in Volatile

Flammable Liquids Incidents Versus Age Distribution for

the U.S. Population (FFACTS, December 1973) .... 11

V
LIST OF TABLES (con't)

* 'i Page

Table 5. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved in Grease

and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids Incidents

Versus Age Distribution for the U.S. Population (FFACTS,

December 1973) 14

Table 6. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved in Gas

Incidents Versus Age Distribution for the U.S. Pop-

' ulation (FFACTS, December 1973) 16

Table 7. Age Distribution by Sex for Persons Involved in Dry

Explosives Incidents Versus Age Distribution for the

U.S. Population (FFACTS, December 1973) 19

Table 8. Ignition Sources by Age Groups and Sex 21

Table 9. Ignition-Causing Activities by Age Groups and Sex . . 25

Table 10. Known First-to-Ignite Fabric Item Groups by Ignition

Source 30

Table 11. Known First-to-Ignite Fabric Item Groups by Age

Group 35

Table 12. Total Body Area Burned by Age Groups and Sex 41

Table 13. Injury Disposition of Victims by Age Groups and Sex . . 45

vi
FIRE INCIDENTS INVOLVING FLAMMABLE

LIQUIDS, GAS, AND DRY EXPLOSIVES

Elaine A. Tyrrell-'-

From the NBS Flammable Fabrics Accident Case and Testing

System as of December 1973, flammable liquids, gas, and dry

explosives were found to be involved in 832 incidents, injuring 863 victims. Volatile flammable liquids represented

77 percent of the incidents; 72 percent of these liquids were

gasoline. Male victims outnumbered females more than 3 to 1.

Young adults, ages 21-45, and youth, ages 13-20, were injured

most frequently. Children and youth were injured primarily

through what was considered as play activities. Adults

generally were injured while engaged in activities traditionally considered as being oriented to the particular sex involved. Streetwear, particularly shirts/blouses, was reported most frequently as igniting first. Thirty-six

percent of the fabrics represented -in these incidents were contaminated with a flammable liquid. Most of the victims

sustained burn injuries covering 1-10 percent of their

bodies; only 6 percent sustained burn injuries covering 61

percent or more of their bodies. Most of the victims were

hospitalized for treatment of their injuries. Although

the very young and the elderly were involved in these incidents less frequently than other age groups, they generally

were burned more severely and represented 46 percent of the

victims who died in the hospital or were dead on arrival.

Key words: Accidents; burn injuries; burn severity; explosives; fabric fires; FFACTS; flammable liquids; gas; gasoline; ignition-causing activities; ignition sources; injury

disposition.

1. INTRODUCTION

Among the problems associated with the energy shortages are the

accompanying price increases and the tendency of consumers to hoard many

of the short-supply fuels. An increasing number of accidents associated

with the storage and usage of these forms of energy are being reported

via the news media.

^At the time this work was completed, the author was affiliated with the

Center for Fire Research, National Bureau of Standards. Ms. Tyrrell is

presently working at the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

1
In 1973, an estimated 24,600 people sought hospital emergency room attention for injuries sustained from flammable liquids3. Approximately

60 percent of these injuries were attributable to gasoline, 18 percent to

lighter fluid, 17 percent to kerosene, and 5 percent to charcoal starter

fluid.

Customarily, cases involving these fuels as well as other flammable

liquids have been excluded from consideration when the National Bureau of

Standards Flammable Fabrics Accident Case and Testing System (FFACTS)'^

has been searched for various fabric-related studies. It was theorized

that if fabric items from these cases were being ignited because of con- tamination with a flammable liquid, they should not be compared with

thos6 fabric items that had been ignited directly from a heg.t.- 'source, such

as matches, lighters, kitchen ranges, heaters, electrical wiring, etc., as the involvement of a flammable liquid obscured the ignition hazard of

these fabric items.

The FFACT System, was searched in December 1973 for incidents^ involving flammable liquids and other explosive-type products, all of which

were coded as intermediary materials^ because of the role they played in

the ignition sequence. The four categories of intermediary materials

searched for specifically were highly volatile flammable liquids, grease

and other less volatile flammable liquids, gas, and dry explosives. From

a data base of 3,043 cases, 863 victims were found who were involved in

832 separate incidents where the above mentioned intermediary materials

were represented in the ignition sequence.

Because nearly one-fourth of the cases in FFACTS were identified with

flammable liquids and other explosive products, this study was undertaken

to determine what patterns or trends may exist which might aid in the

reduction of accidents associated with these materials. It should be

noted that the incidents chosen for FFACTS are not selected on a statistical basis and therefore do not constitute a statistically representative

sample of all fabric fire accidents in the United States. Thus, the

percentages and any comparisons of percentages when used in the findings

of this report cannot be considered as typical or conclusive.

-^An estimated number of injuries for calendar year 1973 based on flammable

liquid accident reports from the 119 hospitals participating in the

National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the Consumer

Product Safety Commission.

^Only a few of the more volatile flammable liquids were co'nsidered for

this estimate where it was felt that the injuries represented would be

primarily burn injuries as opposed to ingestion, etc. which are also

collected by NEISS.

'^See appendix A for a description of the FFACTS data base.

^An incident is defined as a single ignition from a single heat source which may involve one or more fabric items and/or persons.

An intermediary material is a non-fabric item which is ignited by the

ignition source and in turn ignites fabric items, thereby forming a link in the causal chain.

2
2. FINDINGS

2.1. Intermediary Material Involvement

The distribution of these 832 incidents by intermediary material

categories is shown in table 1. Volatile flammable liquids, such as gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, etc., represented 645 (77 percent) of

the incidents followed by gas which was involved in 133 (16 percent) of

the incidents. Grease and other less volatile flammable liquids, such

as cooking grease, paraffin, etc., and dry explosives, such as gunpowder,

firecrackers, etc., were involved in only 40 (5 percent) and 14 (2 percent)

of the incidents, respectively.

Gasoline was the single most frequently reported volatile flammable

liquid, representing 462 (72 percent) of the 645 incidents recorded for

the category. In comparison, lighter fluid represented 36 (6 percent)

of the incidents; alcohol and paint thinner, each represented 4 percent

of the incidents with 27 and 23 incidents, respectively, being reported;

and solvents, adhesives, and kerosene, each represented 2 percent of the

incidents with 13 incidents each being reported for solvents and adhesives and 11 incidents being reported for kerosene.

Cooking grease was the major component of the grease and other less

volatile flammable liquids category, representing 30 (75 percent) of the

incidents in the category. Coal dust and gunpowder were reported most

frequently for the dry explosives, each representing 3 (21 percent) of

the incidents reported for the category. .

2.2. Victim Involvement

2.2.1. Age and Sex of Persons Involved in Flammable

Liquids and Explosive Products Incidents

Of the 863 victims in these 832 incidents, males numbered 666 (77

percent) and females numbered 197 (23 percent) . The age and sex distribution for these 863 victims are tabulated by intermediary material

category in table 2. For purposes of analysis, six age groups were

chosen which roughly indicate six types of behavior patterns. The age

groups represent infants and toddlers, ages 0-5; children, ages 6-12;

youth, ages 13-20; young adults, ages 21-45; adults, ages 46-65; and the

elderly, age 66 and over. These victims are separated by sex in figure

1 where the histograms for each sex represent the number of victims by

age group who were involved in these four categories of incidents.

Males were represented most frequently in all age groups in these

832 incidents. By intermediary material categories, males were injured

most frequently in the volatile flammable liquids incidents in all age

groups. Male injuries dominated in the gas and dry explosives categories,

but females were injured most frequently in the grease and other less volatile flammable liquids incidents in a nearly 2 to 1 ratio over the males.

3
Table 1. Distribution of Intermediary Materials

for Incidents Found in FFACTS by Categories

Intermediary

Material

No. of

Incidents

Percent of

Incidents

Group I: Volatile Flammable Liquids - 77%

Gasoline 462 72

Lighter Fluid 36 , 6 Alcohol 27 4 Paint Thinner 23 4 Solvents 13 2 Adhesives 13 2 Kerosene 11 2 Flammable Liquids (unspecified) 11 2 Oils ... . . • . 8 - Fuel i

, - : , : ^ 8 Turpentine .

,

. ,

,

: 5 Charcoal/Starter Fluid 5 Cleaning Fluid 5 Paint 5 Mix of Chemicals 4 Acetone 2 6 Shellac 2 Hair Spray 2 Window Deicer 1- Antifreeze 1

Fabric Softener 1 Total 645 100

Group II: , Grease and Other Less Volatile

Flammable Liquids - 5%

Cooking Grease _ ; Cooking Oil

Paraffin and Candle Wax

Bacan Fat

Total '

'

30

5

4

1 40

75

T

25

i

100

Group III

Total

Gas (natural, etc.) - 16-

133

Group IV: Dry Explosives - 2%

Coal Dust

Gunpowder . , .

' :! Black Powder

Firecrackers

Dust Particles

Rocket Powder

Explosive Chemicals

Sulfur/Chloride :

.

Total

Grand Total

3

3

221

11

1

14

!32

21

21

14

14

T

30

1

100

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volatile flammable liquids

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^GAS

DRY EXPLOSIVES

FEMALES

72

CO

0-5 6-12 13- 21- 20 45

AGE GROUP

46-

65

Figure 1. Male and female involvement in flammable liquids

and explosive products incidents by age group (FFACTS,

DecemjDer 1973) .
The total number of victims for each sex was redistributed over the

six age groups^ in proportion to their representation in the U.S. population. This information is shown in table 3. The resulting distributions indicate the number of victims which might be expected for each

age group if these types of incidents occurred proportionately throughout

the population as a whole. A visual representation of these data is shown

in figure 2 where the number of victims which might be expected for each

age group (if the victims were distributed uniformly over the age groups

in proportion to their representation in the U.S. population) are superimposed over the histograms from figure 1.

Males in the 6-45 age range were injured far more frequently than

would have been expected for their respective age groups if the victims

were distributed proportionately over the male population. Males in the

6-12 age group were injured often because of their tendencies to "experiment" with flammable liquids and other explosive products. Males in the

13-20 age group were involved frequently with many of the same types of

activities, but on a more sophisticated level. Some of the activities

involving these older youths may have been assigned chores, but probably

should still be considered as play activities in most instances. Males

in the 21-45 age group were involved in a variety of activities around

the home for which many of these hazardous products are frequently used.

Only the females in the 21-45 age group were injured more frequently

than would have been expected if the incidents were distributed proportionately over the female population. Although they were involved most frequently in volatile flammable liquids incidents, they were also frequently

represented in the gas incidents. Females in this age group also were

involved more frequently in grease and other less volatile flammable

liquids incidents than any other age group for either sex.

From the FFACTS data it can be seen that the involvement of victims

in the youngest and oldest age groups for both sexes is rather low when

compared to the other age groups. This may be indicative of the level

of physical development in the young and a tendency toward physical

deterioration in the elderly.

2.2.1.1. Selected Parameters for Children Involved

in Flammable Liquids and Explosive Products Incidents

The incidents involving infants and children through the age of 12

were analyzed for victim solitude at ignition, the presence of adult

supervision at ignition, and time of day of incident. Thirty-eight (79

percent) of the 48 infants and toddlers and 110 (77 percent) of the 148

children ages 6-12 were not alone during the ignition sequence. The

majority of these children were with other children instead of adults.

Ten of the infants and toddlers and 35 of the remaining older children were

alone either at ignit ion or during the entire course of the accident.

^The victims of unknown ages for both sexes were excluded from table 3.

7
4)V if*' Table 3. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved In

. Flammable Liquids and Explosive Products Incidents

Versus Age Distribution for the U.S. Population

(FFACTS, December 1973)

a. Males

Expected Number of

Number of Percent of U.S. Victims based on Age Group Victims Population* Population Percentage**

0-5 30 11 73

6-12 123 '• "-u-^ 15 99

13-20 158 16 106

21-45 221 '

;

• 31 204

46-65 103 19 125

66+ 25 8 53

Total 660+ 100 660

b. Females

Expected Number of

Number of Percent of U.S. Victims based on Age Group Victims Population* Population Percentage**

0-5 18 10 20

6-12 25 IS- 25

13-20 27 IS 29

21-45 72 31 61

46-65 31 20 22

66+ 23 11 22

Total 196+ 100 196

Figures are based on 1970 U.S. Bureau of Census statistics.

**Expected Number _ Total Number of Victims Respective Percent of

of Victims ~ in FFACTS ^ U.S. Population

+Vic tims of unknown ages are excluded.

8
80 r

70

CO_ 60

i 50

^

40

^ 30

M 20

10

0

FEMALES

72

18

25

27y

\X3f

\23 —^<

0-5 8-12 13-20 21-45

AGE GROUP

46-65 0-5 6-12 13-20 21-45 46-65 66+

AGE GROUP

Figure 2. Male and female age distribution for flammable

liquids and explosive products incidents and for the

U.S. population (expected number of victims superimposed) . (FFACTS, December 1973)

9
Approximately 75 percent of these 196 children were not receiving

adult supervision at the time of the accident; 31 of these were under

the age of six and 115 were 6-12 years of age.

Most of the accidents involving the children in these two age

groups occurred during the afternoon hours between noon and 6 p.m.; 105

(54 percent) of the children were injured during these hours. In comparison, 46 (23 percent) children were injured during the evening hours

between 6 p.m. and midnight, 39 (20 percent) children were injured

during the morning hours between 6 a.m. and noon, and 6 (3 percent)

children were injured at night between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

2.2.1.2. Selected Parameters for the Elderly Involved in

Flammable Liquids and Explosive Products Incidents

The incidents involving the elderly were analyzed for victim solitude

at ignition, marital status, and general location of accident. With the

exception of two incidents which took place in a nursing home, these victims were at home (in a house or apartment) when the incident occurred.

Twenty-three (48 percent) of these 48 elderly victims were alone

during the entire course of the accident, 16 (33 percent) were alone at

ignition, and 7 (15 percent) were reported as not being alone at ignition. More males than females were reported as being either not alone

or alone only at ignition, but more females were reported as being alone

during the entire course of the accident. The fact that the majority of

the males were reported as being married at the time of the incident

while most of the females were reported as widowed may have a bearing on

the breakdown by sex of victim solitude at ignition.

2.2.2. Age and Sex of Persons Involved by Intermediary Material Category

These data were analyzed by intermediary material categories in

tables 4-7 where the total number of victims for both sexes was redistributed over the age groups in proportion to their representation in the

U.S. population. Visual representations (figures 3-6) were then made

for each sex by intermediary material category and the number of victims

which might be expected for each age group were superimposed over the

respective histograms.

2.2.2.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

In table 4 and figure 3, this information is presented for volatile

flammable liquids incidents. Males in the 6-12 and 13-20 age groups

were injured far more frequently than would have been expected for their

age groups if the incidents were distributed proportionately over the

male age groups. These males were injured most frequently from what was considered as primarily play activities. Males in the 21-45 age group

were represented more frequently than all other age groups in the FFACTS

data, but they also represent the largest portion of the male population

10
Table 4. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved in Volatile

Flammable Liquids Incidents Versus Age Distribution

for the U.S. Population

(FFACTS, December 1973)

a. Males

Expected Number of

Number of Percent of U.S. Victims based on Age Group Victims Population" Population Percentage'

0-5 27 11 59

6-12 121 15 81

13-20 133 16 87

21-45 166 31 167

46-65 75 19 103

66+ 18 8 43

Total 540 100 540

b. Females

Expected Number of

Number of Percent of U.S. Victims based on Age Group Victims Population* Population Percentage'

0-5 16 10 12

6-12 23 13 16

13-20 21 15 18

21-45 34 31 38

46-65 16 20 25

66+ 13 11 14

Total 123

" 100 123

^Figures are based on 1970 U.S. Bureau of Census statistics.

*Expected Number _ Total Number of Victims , Respective Percent of

of Victims ~ in FFACTS * U.S. Population

"Victims of unknown ages are excluded.

11
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12
among the six age groups used in this paper. Hence, these males were

Injured about as frequently as would have been expected if the volatile

flammable liquids incidents for the male victims were distributed proportionately over the age groups.

Females only represented approximately 19 percent of the victims

involved in volatile flammable liquids incidents. Among females, those

through the age of 20 were injured most frequently in proportion to their

representation in the female population.

2.2.2.2. Grease and Other Less

Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

In table 5 and figure 4, this information is displayed for grease and

other less volatile flammable liquids. Most of the incidents described in

this category were cooking related, where cooking grease or cooking oil

ignited and the victims were injured as the result of either carrying or transporting the burning liquid; spilling, splashing or splattering the

liquid; or knocking over or dropping the container of burning liquid.

Females comprised 65 percent of the victims in this intermediary

material category. Forty- two percent of the females were in the 21-45

age group, 27 percent were in the 46-65 age group, and 19 percent were 66

years old and over. The victims in these age groups were injured most

frequently in proportion to their representation in the female population.

Males in the 21-45 age group were injured more frequently than

males in any other age group and more frequently than would have been

expected if the incidents had been distributed proportionately over all

age groups.

2.2.2.3. Gas Category

In table 6 and figure 5, this Information is presented for the gas

incidents. All of the incidents in this intermediary material category

were the result of an explosion.

The most frequent victims of these incidents were males primarily in

the 13-65 age range. Males in the 13-20 age group were Injured about as frequently as would be expected if the gas incidents were distributed

proportionately across the male population. Males in the 21-45 and

46-65 age groups were injured much more frequently than would have been

expected. Males in all 3 age groups were injured most often while

attempting to light a pilot light in a furnace, water heater, kitchen

range, etc. This activity would probably be assumed by males primarily

in the 21-45 and 46-65 age groups as part of home maintenance.

13
Table 5. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved in Grease

and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids Incidents Versus

Age Distribution for the U.S. Population

(FFACTS, December 1973)

' '

' a. Males

Age Group

Number of

Victims

Percent of U.S.

Population*

Expected Number of

Victims Based on Population Percentage**

0-5

6-12

13-20 ' " 21-45

46-65 ' : 66+ V''--^^'

. ...-.0.

"'

, ' 0 ,V-.

11

16

31

19

2

2

2

4

3

1

Total 14 . 100 14

b. Females

Age Group

Number of

' Victims

Percent of U.S.

Population*

Expected Number of

Victims Based on Population Percentage**

0-5.

6-12 ! 13-20

21-45

46-65 . . 66+ -

"

1

1

1

11

7

10

13 , :,. 15 ,

• 31

20 : . 11

3

3

, . 4

' 8

53

Total 26 100 26

^Figures are based on 1970 U.S. Bureau of Census statistics.

**Expected Number _ Total Number of Victims Respective Percent of

of Victims ~ in FFACTS ^ U.S. Population

14
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fO -U tn C

CU QJ iH

fO •H g 0

(D c

•H q;W

cn 0a

TCI

H

g

•H

0) cr 5-1 rH •H 0)

to rH

Q)

w

iH

w

«>r (d

g

g •H

(U

g -P

!-i (t3

u P rH •H>

SNI13IA JO mmn

15
Table 6. Age Distribution by Sex of Persons Involved in Gas

Incidents Versus Age Distribution for the U.S. Population

(FFACTS, December 1973)

a. Males

Expected Number of

Number of Percent of U.S. Victims based on Age Group Victims Population* Population Percentage'

0-5 3 10

6-12 0 / 15

13-20 , /

- U 15

21-45 45 29

46-65 26 r • . 19-: 18

66+ 7

Total 93+ 100 93

b. Females

Expected Number of

Number of Percent of U.S. Victims based on Age Group Victims Population* Population Percentage

0-5 1 10 5

6-12 1 13 6

13-20 7 21-45 27 31 14

46-65 7 20 9

66+ \ 5,-^ '3-1 5

Total 46 100 46

*Figures are based on 1970 U.S. Bureau of Census statistics.

^Expected Number _ Total Number of Victims Respective Percent of

of Victims ~ in FFACTS ^ U.S. Population

+V Ictims of unknown ages are excluded.

16
CM

CO

CD

(U ITS X! CO -P CO 0 Eh ou U

<

Cm CM C Ph C9

C9

CM uu w

CO

n

4-

11U

0)

CD CM rH 03 U 0 CO c

•iH g

•H

ITS !h CO fd OJa

;3

>-) cn CO OJ

SNI13IA dO HBSMnN

C0

UJ

C9

CO

SNI13IA JO mm<

17

om

c

o

•H

•HU

-Pw

-H

g

-H

+JU

•H>

M-lo

<Ug

CP a

fd T!

QJ 4JU

QJX

CD

CD H

fdg

CD

14-1

TZiC

fd

CD

r-l

LD

fd CTi p

O CDg

CD • CD

>-l CO U

p • CD Q H
Of the females injured in these incidents, those in the 21-45 age

group were represented most often in the FFACTS data and were injured far

more frequently than would have been expected for their age group if the

incidents had been proportionately distributed over the female population.

Most of the women in this age group were described in the case reports as being the female most responsible for the functions of the household.

This meant she was the wife, mother, or head of the house (woman with

children or others in her care, or woman living alone) . These victims

were involved most frequently with kitchen ranges, attempting either to

ignite the pilot light or use the range.

2.2.2.4. Dry Explosives Category

In table 7 and figure 6, this information is shown for the dry explosives incidents. With the exception of one female, the victims of these

accidents were males. Males in the 13-20 age group were represented most

frequently. Most of the activities involving the males in this age group

were considered as play activities.

2.3. Ignition Sources

The ignition sources^ for these 832 flammable liquids and explosive

products incidents are displayed in table 8 by age groups and sex for each

intermediary material category. The class of open fires includes charcoal

grills, camp fires, fireplaces, incinerators, bonfires, fires to clear

trash, leaves or other debris, etc. The class of smoking materials include

cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.

2.3.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

For the volatile flammable liquids incidents, open fires, and matches

and lighters were the ignition sources reported most frequently, representing 172 (27 percent) and 150 (23 percent), respectively, of the incidents. Matches alone were involved in 120 of the incidents.

The most frequent victims in incidents involving both of these ignition sources were males in the 6-12 age group with 43 incidents being

reported for open fires and 47 incidents being reported for matches and

lighters. Males in the 13-20 and 21-45 age groups also were injured

frequently with these two ignition sources, although males, ages 21-45,

were involved with open fires far more often than with matches and lighters

"Open fires" mean trash, leaf, and other fires in an open area for the

6-12 year old males; incinerator fires for the 13-20 year old males; and

charcoal grill fires for the 21-45 year old males.

"8 See appendix B for the classification system used to obtain ignition

sources.

18
Table 7. Age Distribution by Sex for Persons Involved in Dry Explosives

Incidents Versus Age Distribution for the U.S. Population

(FFACIS, December 1973)

Males

Expected Number of

Age Group

Number of

Victims

Percent of U.S.

J. Population

Victims based on Population Percentage"

0-5 0 11 1

6-12 2 15 2

13-20 8 16 2

21-45 3 31 4

46-65 0 19 3

66+ 0 8 1

Total 13 100 13

Females

Number of Percent of U.S

Expected Number of

Victims based on Age Group Victims Population* Population :

0-5 0 10 0

6-12 0 13 0

13-20 0 15 0

21-45 0 31 0

46-65 1 20 0

66+ 0 11 0

Total 1 100 0

*Figures are based on 1970 U.S. Bureau of Census statistics.

**Expected Number _ Total Number of Victims ^ Respective Percent of

of Victims ~ in FFACTS U.S. Population

19
20

y 15

& 10

LU

« 5

0

8

2

3

0 , 0^

0-5 6-12 13-20 21-45 46-65 66+

AGE GROUP

Figure 6. Male age distribution for dry explosives

incidents and for the U.S. population (expected

number of victims superimposed). (FFACTS,

December 1973)

20
Table 8. Ignition Sources by Age Groups and Sex

Volatile Flamable Liquids

Ignition Source

D- M p6- M

12

J13-M

20

Y

21- M

4 5f

46- M

U -Jr 66+

M F Unknown

M F Total

Furnace D

1X L. 9 1X X X1 9 - 1 - - X D Space Heater 1±

1X

•3J

1X

3 1X 9 J - - - - 9nzu Hot water neater D

AH D

1X xu A X J1X

i; J 9 1 1 2 - JO

Electric Range 1 - - 1 Gas Range ^

1X1XT

_) 7

f. 3

1X X I i 9 "3 Appliances (Other^^ X D

1, 9Z - - 1 T IJ Electrical Wiring _ 1 1 3 _ 4 _ 3 _ 12 Lantern/Candle 1 3 3 1 4 2 3 1 - - 1 - 19 Open Fire 5 4 43 9 34 2 36 8 18 4 5 3 1 172

Smoking Materials 1 2 3 2 - 8 Matches & Lighters 8 3 47 6 33 5 20 8 6 3

c0 5 150

Cutting/Welding Torches

& Other Work Tools _ 1 _ 4 _ 17 _ 7 _ 1 30

Combustion Engine 1 1 2 1 11 2 27 1 17 3 66

Fireworks 1 1 Other 5 5 11 2 2 1 26

Total Known 27 15 115 23 116 19 151 29 70 14 18 13 4 1 615

Unknown 1 3 11 1 6 2 5 1 30

Total 27 16 118 23 127 20 157 31 75 15 18 13 4 1 645

^Jncludes other heaters and ranges.

Includes light bulbs and lamps.

b. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids

Ignition Source

0- M5

F

6- M

12

F

13-

M

•20 F21- M-45F46-

M

65

F

1 M

56-1-F Unknovm

M F Total

Electric Range 1 1 2 7 2 1 14 Gas Range 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 10

Appliances (Other)* 2 5 2 2 1 12 Lantern/ Candle 1 1 Open Fire 1 1 Other 1 1

Total Known 1 1 3 1 7 10 2 7 2 5 39

Unknown 1 1

Total 1 1 3 1 7 11 2 7 2 5 40

* Includes unspecified and other ranges

.

21
Table 8. Ignition Sources by Age Groups and Sex (continued)

c . Gas

Ignition Source

0-5 6-12 13-•20 21--45 46-•65 66-t- Unknown Total

M F M F M F M F M F M F M F

Furnace 1 4 2 3 - - 10

Space Heater 1 1 - - 1 - 5 1 - - - 9 Hot Water Heater 1 1 1 1 4 Electric Range 1 - - - 1 Gas Range - - 1 1 1 1 1 5 Appliances (Other)* 2 1 3 Electrical Wiring - - 1 - - 1 Open Fire 1 1 Matches & Lighters 1 8 5 23 20 13 5 5 4 1 85

Other - 2 2

Total Known 2 1 — 1 12 5 37 26 20 6 5 5 1 121

Unknown 1 - - 1 4 4 1 1 12

Total 3 1 - 1 13 5 41 26 24 7 5 5 2 133

Includes unspecified heaters.

d. Dry Explosives

0-5 6-•12 13-20 21--45 46-65 66-t- Unknown Ignition Source Total

M F M F M F M F M F M F M F

Furnace 1 1 2 Matches & Lighters 1 4 1 6 Other - 1 1 2

Total Known • 2 6 1 1 10

Unknown 2 2 4

Total 2 8 3 1 14
Internal combustion engines were the third most frequently reported

ignition source representing 66 (10 percent) of the incidents. Males in

the 21-45 age group followed by males in the 46-65 age group were the

most frequent victims of this ignition source.

Females, in general, were injured most frequently from their involvement with open fires. Females in the 6-12 age group followed by those

in the 21-45 age group were reported most often. Females in the 6-12

age group were involved primarily with fires started in an open area whereas females in the 21-45 age group were involved mainly with either charcoal grills or matches and lighters.

Males in the 0-5 age group were involved most often with matches and

lighters followed by hot water heaters, furnaces, and open fires. Females

in this age group were involved with hot water heaters and open fires most

frequently followed by matches and lighters. These four classes of ignition sources represent 83 percent of the victims in this age group.

The elderly were involved most often with matches and lighters. For

the males, this ignition source was closely followed by smoking materials

which included cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.

2.3.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

For the grease and other less volatile flammable liquids incidents,

kitchen ranges were involved in 36 (90 percent) of the incidents with

electric ranges predominating. Adults, ages 21 and over, were the chief

victims of the incidents for this category, with 68 percent of these

adults being female. By sex, both males and females in the 21-45 age

group were involved most often in these incidents followed by females in

the 46-65 and the 66 and over age groups with the incident rate decreasing

with increasing age.

2.3.3. Gas Category

Matches and lighters were reported most frequently as an ignition

source in the gas incidents representing 85 (64 percent) of the incidents.

Matches alone were involved in 75 of these incidents. Both males and

females in the 21-45 age group were reported as being involved with this

ignition source most frequently followed by males in the 46-65 age group.

Matches and lighters were also reported most frequently for males in the

13-20 and the 66 and over age groups.

2.3.4. Dry Explosives Category

As with the gas incidents, matches and lighters were reported most

frequently as the ignition source in the dry explosives incidents, representing 6 (43 percent) of the incidents. Matches alone were involved in

5 of the incidents. Males in the 13-20 age group were the chief victims

of the dry explosives incidents.

. 23
2.4. Ignition-Causing Activities

From a review of these case histories, it was noted that they often

contained information regarding the precise action which led to the

ignition — detailed information which cannot be retrieved from the com- puterized data file. It was also observed that these specific activities

appeared repeatedly in these incidents which suggested that categorization

of these activities might be possible,

A classification list^ was devised for obtaining these activities

from the 832 flammable liquids and explosive products incidents. In the

following sub-sections, the activities which were found by using this

classification listing are reported.

Because the specific activity which led to the ignition sequence

was coded for each incident, the activity may not necessarily indicate

the activity of the primary victimlO who represents the incident. The

activities for these incidents are tabulated in table 9 for each intermediary material category by age groups and sex for the representative

victim.

2.4.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

For the volatile flammable liquids incidents, starting or tending an open fire was the activity reported most frequently, comprising 138

(21 percent) of the incidents. Both males and females in the 21-45 age

group were injured most frequently from this activity. The males in the

13-20 and the 6-12 age groups also were injured frequently as a result

of this activity. From a study of the case history reports for the male

victims from these 3 age groups, there was an indication that this activity might be considered a play activity rather than a functional or utilitarian activity in some instances for the victims in the 6-12 and 13-20

age groups. Many of the males in the 6-12 age group were involved in

experimenting with fires — fires created to burn miscellaneous items from

around the yard, fires started in old tree stumps, etc. The actions of

the males in the 13-20 age group indicated there had been more planning

for the fires with which they were involved. Many of the fires for this

age group were incinerator fires. In contrast, males in the 21-45 age

group were involved primarily with charcoal grill fires.

^See appendix B for the classification system used ot obtain ignitioncausing activities.

'-'^The primary victim is defined as the person who was most involved in

causality chain with the most important role being that of sustaining

an injury. If there were no injuries reported, then the primary victim

was the person whose actions initiated the fire or who was in some way

directly involved.

24
Table 9. Ignition-Causing Activities by Age Groups and Sex

a. Volatile Flammable Liquids

Activity

0- M

•5 F6- M

12

F

13-

M

20

F

21- M

45

F

46- M

65

F 66+

M F UnknownM F

Tota:

Playing with matches

OT 1 i ffh t" 1 7 1 2 11

PlAviriff with flamniable

liquid 4 1 2 1 3 11

Pl^avinff with flain— mable liquid and an ignition source 5 3 45 9 9 2 1 74 Starting/tending open

f ire 5 1 23 3 29 5 34 8 16 5 5 3 1 138

Disturbing open fire 5 3 1 1 6 Standing by open fire _ 1 1 1 2 _ 3 _ 1 _ _ _ 1 10

Standing near ignition

source _ 1 _ _ _ 2 1 _ _ 4 Standing near flammable liquid 1 2 2 _ 2 2 _ 1 _ _ 10 Transferring flammable liquid _ _ 3 _ 3 1 2 1 10

Carrying/ transporting

flammable liquid _ _ 1 _ 3 — _ _ 2 _ 1 _ ^ 7 Spilling/ splashing

flammable liquid 4 _ 7 _ 12 11 6 5 1 1 1 48

Knocking over/dropping

flammable liquid 4 6 9 2 8 1 6 1 6 1 _ _ 44

Refueling equipment 1 2 1 4 4 _ _ _ _ 12 Cleaning /repairing

equipment 2 _ 1 11 1 11 _ 10 3 - _ _ 39 Priming carburetor 1 1 8 16 _ 7 _ 33

Using machinery/

equipment 1 2 1 2 2 5 2 5 1 1 _ 22 Using work tools 1 6 11 3 21

Using flammable liquid

as cleaning agent 1 2 1 8 4 15 3 6 2 1 1 2 46 Using flammable liquid

as exterminating

a 2ent 1 3 3 1 1 1 _ 10

Using flammable liquid

to ignite heat source 1 3 1 5 Using flammable liquid

as adhesive _ _ 1 _ 9 2 1 1 1 15 Using flammable liquid

as paint 1 1 _ 2 Using matches or lighter 1 1 8 1 4 3 2 5 5 30

Smoking - - 2 2 - 4 Driving/riding vehicle — — ~ 1 4 1 9 1 1 17

HplriTno" LJ.CJ_LJ^l,lg PTinl'ViPT" Oll^-'L.llCJ- nfafcnn L'CJ.O<>JLi involved in incident 1 1 2 Suspected Arson 1 1 1 3 Assault /suicide 1 1 1 2 5

Total Known 27 16 117 23 127 19 156 31 73 14 18 13 4 1 639

Unknovm 1 1 1 2 1 6

Total 27 16 118 23 127 20 157 31 75 15 18 13 4 1 645

The activities listed may not necessarily indicate the activity of the victim who represents

the incident, but they do reflect the specific action which caused an ignition to occur.

25
is Table 9. Ignition-Causing Activities by Age Groups and Sex (continued)

b. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids

* Activity

0-M5

F

6- M12

F

13-

M

20F

21- M

-45F

46- M

•65F

1 M

66+

F Unknown

M F Total

Carrying/ transporting

flammable liquid

Spilling/ splashing/

splattering flammable liquid

Knocking over or dropping flammable

liquid

1 1

1

2- 1

4

3

8

2

1

1

1

3

4

1

1

1

4

19

20

1

Total - 1 - 1 3 1 7 11 2 7 2 5 - 40

c. Gas

A Activity • 0-M

•5F6- M

12

F 13-M

20F

21- M-45F46-

M

•65F

( M

66-f-F Unknown

M F Total

Standing near ignition

source Cleaning/ repairing

machinery/equipment

Using machinery/equipment

Using matches or lighter

Smoking ,,

1

—

2

-

1

-

-

-

—

-

-

—

1

-

2

10

1

—

5

-

3

5

20

10

2

-

24

2

1

7

13

21

1

5

1

—

5

-

—

5

-

- -

2

-

6

15

92

16

3

Total Known 3 1 - 1 13 5 40 26 24 7 5 5 2 132

Unknown _ i 1 1

Total 3 1 - 1 13 5 41 26 24 7 5 5 2 133

d. Dry Explosives

A Activity

0-M•5 F6- M

•12F 13-

M

20

F

21- M-45F

46-

M

65

F

( M

d6+F Unknown

M F Total

Playing with explosives

or ignition source

or both

Standing near an explosive or ignition source Cleaning/ repair/ using

machinery or equipment

2 6

1

1

1

1

1 1

9

2

3

Total 2 8 3 1 14

The activities listed may not necessarily indicate the activity of the victim who represents

the incident, but they do reflect the specific action which caused an ignition to occur.
Playing with both an ignition source and a flammable liquid was the

second most frequently reported activity representing 74 (11 percent) of

the incidents. In many of the incidents this activity represented an open fire where matches and gasoline were involved generally. Both males

and females in the 6-12 age group were injured most frequently from this

activity.

The activities of spilling or splashing a flammable liquid, which

occurred in 48 of the incidents; using a flammable liquid as a cleaning

agent, which occurred in 46 of the incidents; and knocking over or dropping a container of flammable liquid, which occurred in 44 of the incidents; each represented 7 percent of these flammable liquid incidents.

Spilling or splashing a flammable liquid primarily involved both

males and females in the 21-45 age group who attempted to lift or pour a flammable liquid in the presence of an ignition source. Children through

the age of twelve, however, were injured more often than older age groups

when they attempted to play with or use a container of flammable liquid

and knocked or kicked it over in the presence of an ignition source. The

ignition sources for all of these types of activities were generally hot

water heaters, kitchen ranges, space heaters and furnaces.

Using a flammable liquid as a cleaning agent injured persons in the

21-45 age group most frequently. Victims in the 13-21 age group also

were involved often with this activity. Using a flammable liquid as a cleaning agent or solvent, for the adults, generally involved the removal

of tar, paint, tile, etc., from floors, counter-tops, paint brushes, etc.,

with a flammable liquid which was identified as gasoline in approximately

half of the incidents. The fumes were subsequently ignited by a pilot

light from a gas appliance. For the youth, this activity was generally

defined as cleaning engine parts in a pan filled with a flammable liquid,

usually identified as gasoline, in a basement or utility room where the

pilot light from the water heater or furnace ignited the fumes.

Although it only represents 33 (5 percent) of the 645 volatile

flammable liquid incidents, priming carburetors injured 16 males in the

21-45 age group which, for the males in this age group, is second in

frequency only to the activity of starting or tending an open fire which

injured 34 males.

Victims in the 46-65 age group were injured most frequently from

starting or tending an open fire — often identified as a trash or leaf

fire started in an open area. Males in this age group also were often

involved in machinery and equipment related activities such as cleaning

or repairing machinery and priming carburetors.

The elderly were injured most often from using matches or a lighter.

Males in this age group were injured equally as often while starting or tending an open fire.

27
2.4.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

Spilling, splashing, or splattering a flammable liquid was the

activity reported most frequently in the grease and other less volatile

flammable liquids incidents, representing 20 (50 percent) of the incidents. Injuries resulting from this activity were sustained primarily

by adults over the age of 20. Females represented 68 percent of. these

adult victims. From a study of the case history reports, it was noted

that the victims of this activity were attempting to extinguish a cooking

grease or cooking oil fire either by removing the cooking utensil from

the burner, spilling the hot grease or oil on themselves in the process,

or by dousing the flames in the utensil with cold water from the tap,

thus splashing or splattering the hot substance on themselves.

Carrying or transporting a flammable liquid represented 19 (48 percent) of these incidents with the injuries being sustained chiefly by

adults (predominantly females) in the 21-45 age group. Here victims were

attempting to move a flaming or smoking cooking utensil from the range to

the sink or outside and were injured as a direct result of transporting

the utensil. These injuries generally occurred when the excited victim

dropped the flaming utensil on themselves, jerked the utensil when the

air currents created by carrying the utensil caused the flames or smoke

to flare up, or when the surrounding objects (including garments on the

victim) ignited from the flaming utensil as it was being carried.

.

. . . ^ w ' 2.4.3. Gas Category

For the 133 gas incidents, using machinery or equipment represented

92 (69 percent) of the incidents. Victims, mostly males, in the 21-45

age group followed by those in the 46-65 age group were injured most

frequently. The victims were generally attempting to re-ignite extinguished pilot lights in furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, etc., or otherwise trying to use equipment, such as ranges, when an explosion

occurred. These victims were generally aware of a gas leakage and were

in the process of tracing it to its source when an explosion occurred.

Sixteen (12 percent) of the gas incidents were the result of victims,

mostly males, in the 21-45 age group, attempting to light a match or lighter in the presence of a gas leak. In many instances, the intent was to light a cigarette.

2.4.4. Dry Explosives Category

Playing with an explosive, an ignition source, or both represented

9 (64 percent) of the dry explosive incidents and involved males in the

13-20 age group most frequently. The explosives involved included gunpowder, black powder, rocket powder, and firecrackers.

28
Cleaning, repairing, or using machinery or equipment represented

another 3 (21 percent) of these incidents involving one male each from

the 13-20 and 21-45 age groups and the female from the 46-65 age group.

Accidents resulting from this activity occurred as the result of the

victims cleaning out, lighting, or attempting to use a coal furnace.

No victims in the youngest and oldest age groups were involved in the

dry explosives incidents.

2.5. Known First-to-Ignite Fabric Items

2.5.1. Ignition Sources

In table 10, the 466 fabric items which were known to have ignited

first are tabulated for all of the victims reported in these 832 incidents

by ignition sources for each intermediary material category. These fabric

items are grouped by outer wear, street wear, underwear, sleepwear, accessories and other miscellaneous garments, interior furnishings, and miscellaneous fabrics. Since it is postulated that fabrics contaminated with

flammable liquids exhibit altered flammability characteristics, the

fabric groups represented in both of the flammable liquids tables have

been partitioned to reflect the contamination status.

2.5.1.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

For the 645 volatile flammable liquids incidents, 378 fabric items

were known to have been f irst-to-ignite items. Street wear followed by

underwear and outer wear were ignited first most frequently.

Street wear (which, for these incidents, consisted of pants /slacks

,

shorts, dresses, a gown, shirts /blouses , sweatshirts, sweaters, overalls/

coveralls, and a vest) represented 276 (73 percent) of the volatile

flammable liquids fabric ignitions. Shirts /blouses followed by pants/

slacks were the most frequent items reported, representing 135 (49

percent) and 94 (34 percent) of the street wear garments, respectively.

Underwear (which consisted of undershirts, underpants, socks, and

stockings/leotards) represented 47 (12 percent) of the ignitions.

Undershirts were most prevalent, representing 32 (68 percent) of the

underwear items

.

Outer wear (coats, jackets, and a hat) represented 25 (9 percent)

of the ignitions. Jackets were the most frequently reported item,

representing 21 of the 25 outer wear items known to have ignited first.

In incidents where more than one victim was reported, known first-toignite garment items were reported on a per victim basis.

29

I ^ I I

c

c o 3 C II I I I I I

3 B -a

— III

1 S C 3

Oc

0 C e3 z: o c

1 I C -rt _ O B 4J O S 63 4J C

•rlC

OBC

e

^ CM I ^ I

m * e c ee u $-1 h

•H s s o = ^ 1- c = j: u s.

i-i c3 a. ea o <

31
Table 10. (continued)

c. Gas

Interior

Ignition Source Outer Wear Street Wear Underwear Sleepwear Furnishings Total

Furnace - 3 1 1 5 Space Heater 2

1±1X 6 Hot Water Heater 1 1 Appliances (Other) . - 1 1 Electric Wiring - 1 1 Open Fire - - 1 1 Matches or Lighters — 1 Q 9 oJ 24

Other 2 1 1 —

iotai is.nown £, cJ

cJ

9 43

Unknown - 3 _ _ _ J

Total 2 32 5 5 2 46

d . Dry Explosives

Ignition Source Street Wear Underwear Sleepwear Total

Furnace 1 1 Matches & Lighters 1 2 3 Other 1 1 2

Total Known 2 3 1 6

Unknown 3 3

Total 5 3 1 9

I

32
For the volatile flammable liquids incidents, sleepwear included

pajamas, nightgowns, and robes/housecoats; accessories and miscellaneous

garments included an apron and shoes; interior furnishings included a pair of draperies, a carpet or rug, and several upholstered items; and

miscellaneous fabrics included a tent.

Of the 378 fabric items for the category, fabrics contaminated with

a flammable liquid comprised 183 (48 percent) , fabrics not contaminated

represented 106 (28 percent), and the status for the 89 (24 percent) re- maining fabrics was unknown. Seventy-one percent of the contaminated

fabrics were from the street wear group.

Fifty-two percent of all the fabrics were ignited by open fires, and

matches and lighters which were identified as the major ignition sources

for the volatile flammable liquids category. Fifty-seven percent of the

contaminated fabrics were ignited by these ignition sources. Appliances

(furnaces, space heaters, water heaters, ranges, etc.) and combustion

engines were the ignition sources for 16 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of these contaminated fabrics.

2.5.1,2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

For the 40 grease and other less volatile flammable liquids incidents,

33 fabric items were known to have ignited first. Interior furnishings

followed by street wear were the most frequently first-to- ignite groups

of fabric items.

Interior furnishings (which consisted of a bedspread, curtains/draperies, a carpet/rug, a tablecloth, and a pot holder) represented 13 (39

percent) of the ignitions for the category. Draperies/curtains were re- reported most often, comprising 9 of the 13 items in the group.

Street wear (pants/slacks, dresses, skirts, shirts/blouses, and

sweatshirts) represented 10 (30 percent) of the ignitions. Shirts/blouses

comprised 4 of the 10 street wear items.

Sleepwear included pajamas, nightgowns, and robes/housecoats; underwear included slips, socks, and stockings/leotards; and an apron was the

only fabric item reported for Accessories and Miscellaneous. Garments.

Ten (30 percent) of the fabric items for this intermediary material

category were known to have been contaminated with a flammable liquid, 16

(49 percent) were not contaminated, and the status of 7 (21 percent) was

not known. Fifty percent of the contaminated fabric items were in the

street wear group. Only one item in the furnishings group, the pot holder^ was reported to have been contaminated.

33
Kitchen ranges were the ignition source for 91 percent of all of the

fabric ignitions. This included all of the 9 curtain/drapery ignitions

and 3 of the 4 shirt/blouse ignitions from the major fabric groups.

Kitchen ranges were the ignition source for 80 percent of the contaminated

fabrics.

: , 2.5.1.3. Gas Category

For the 133 gas incidents, 46 fabric items were known to have ignited

first. Street wear (pants/slacks, dresses, shirts/blouses, sweaters, and

culottes) was the most frequently reported group of fabric items, representing 32 (70 percent) of the items for the category. Shirts and blouses

represented 19 of the 32 garments.

Sleepwear (pajamas, nightgowns, and robes/housecoats) and underwear

(undershirts, underpants, and stockings/leotards) were the next most frequently reported groups, each having 5 garment items. Robes and housecoats represented 3 of the 5 sleepwear items and undershirts represented 2 of the 5 underwear items.

Jackets and carpets were the only items reported for the outer wear

and the interior furnishings groups, respectively.

Matches and lighters were the ignition source for 24 (52 percent) of

the fabric ignitions for the gas category: 91 percent of the ignitions in

the street wear group and half of those in the sleepwear and underwear

group were the result of matches and lighters. Although not contributing

substantially to any one fabric group listed, space heaters and furnaces

ranked second to matches and lighters as an ignition source, representing

6 (13 percent) and 5 (11 percent), respectively, of the ignition sources

for this intermediary material category.

: 2.5.1.4. Dry Explosives Category

For the 14 dry explosives incidents, 9 fabric items were reported as being f irst-to-ignite . Street wear predominated with 1 pants/slacks, 3

shirts/blouses, and a sweatshirt. Underwear was represented with 3 undershirts, and sleepwear followed with one robe. Matches and lighters were

the major ignition sources.

.y "'-[.v. y ^:\ " 2.5.2. Age Groups and Sex

The known f irst-to-ignite fabric item groups discussed in table 10 are displayed again by age groups for each sex in table 11.

34

1—

1

« 1 1 ro lO CM cs) CM iH iH iH rH

iH CM 0H

03 P

1 0

— — ———

— — -

o. c c 1 1 iH f—1 1 pH C^ 1 1 1—1 CM 1 t—

1

30U 1 a S 13

4-1 nl 0) c O 4-1 4-1 •iH Z C n! 1 1 r-( CM t-H 1^ t—1 1—1 1 CM CO CM o C

.-1 U -H

n3

j-i 1 1 TJ O C -H OJ H 0 E 4-1 1 1 iH iH 1 1 CM 1 1 1 CO iH 00

4-1 c

_.

tn c

bC 1 ? C C 0 1 1 1 I—I 1 1—

1

CM 1 1 r-1 iH 1 1 CM

•^^ ^ s

0) •H 1 C 0 "O M 4-1 to CU 3 0 4-» 1 1 t CM 1—1 iH <f f—1 1 1 (H 1 CM Z C tfl o c

U t_3 OH 1 1 "0 C 'H OJ

01 O E 4-1 1 Ill-Ill .H 1 1 1 j 1 1 1 4-» t_J CO to c 4-1 C M

c

1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 fH rH c c

'-a 01

tn c 1 OJ 0) B T3

•H B 4-1 to OJ U M O 4-1 4-1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 O n) Z C to

05 O 0 c

03

4)

1 1 "O O 03 C -H 0) < •H 0 B 4-1 1 1 III 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 O CO CO

4-1 C

0301

1 § l-l C 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . to 1 1 1 -H 1 1 r-l a

OJ

M

1S 13

n) 4J to 0) -. 01 0 4-14-1 Z C to 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 CM 1 CM a 0 c

01 tjl -H

0) • .H 1 1 TJ

C/1 C 01 O S 4-1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ' 1 1 1 1 CM 1 CM U CO CO

4-1 C

own 1 I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 c c o ^

1a "o

1) 4J tO OJ

ps O 4-1 4J 1 1 "-1 1 1 1 t—

1

1 1 1 "-I 1 1 iH

fj Z C to

0) 0 c

T3 U -H c

1 1 "O C -H OJ 0 8 4-1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 r-l .H 1 CM u to to

4-1 C

1 o 1 1 rH 1 1 1 t—

1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 c c

>-i p ^

n)

OJ 3 a -a U CO OJ

4-1 O 4-1 4J 1 1 1 I—1 fH 1 CM 1 I—1 1 1 1—1 1 CM

OJ Z C CO

OJ o c

IJ U -H

4J

C/3 1 1 T3 G -i-l OJ 0 8 4-1 1 <-l 1 1 1 iH 1 1 1 CM 1-1 i-H cj to to 4J C

D-3

o CM O LTl in r-l CM O rH

(J iH CM -a- -.D -(- CO LO f—1 CM ^ + to o 1 1 1 1 1 ^ 4-) 1 1 1 1 1 O 4J o \D CO 1—1 vO vO o O CO rH vO vD o

OJ 1-1 CM -a- rH CM -3- H

60

<: 1

36
Table 11. Known First-co-lgnite Fabric Item Groups by Age Group (continued)

c. Gas - Males

Age Group Outer Wear Street Wear Undervjear

0-5

6-12

13-20 - 5 21-45 1 7 46-65 1 6

66+ - 2

Total Known 2 ^ 20

Unknown - 1

Total 2 21

Interior

Sleepwear Furnishings Total

- 1 1

1 - - 6 -1-8 2 - - 10

- - - 2

3 1 1 27

- - - 1

3 1 1 28

Females

Interior

Age Group Outer Wear Street Wear Undei-wear Sleepwear Furnishings Total

0-5 1 1 6-12 1 1 13-20 1 1 21-45 8 1 2 11

46-65 2 1 3 66+ 1 1

Total 11 2 4 1 18

d. Dry Explosives - Males

Age Group Street W^ear Underwear Sleepwear Total

0-5

6-12 1 1 13-20 3 2 5 21-45 2

• 2 46-65 1* 1

66+

Total 5 3 1 9

* One female is represented in the table

37
2.5.2.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

Males represented 80 percent of the 378 victims involved with firstto-ignite fabric items in the volatile flammable liquids incidents. For

both sexes, street wear was reported most frequently as being flrst-toignite. This was followed by underwear and outer wear for the males and

sleepwear for the females.

Males in the 6-45 age range were reported most frequently in the 8

groups of garment types mentioned above. These victims were frequently

involved with starting or adding a flammable liquid to an existing fire.

In addition, males in the 6-12 age group were often reported to be playing

with a flammable liquid and an ignition source, and males in the 21-45 age

group were also frequently involved with machinery and equipment related

activities. In general, street wear would be considered the most logical

dress for these types of activities and slacks and shirts, in particular,

probably would be expected to be involved most often, as was indicated in

table 10. The frequent involvement of underwear (primarily undershirts)

and outer wear (primarily jackets), in these activities may reflect

seasonal variations.

Females in the 6-45 age range were reported most frequently in the

street wear group of fabrics with approximately 38 percent of these females being in the 21-45 age group. These females were often involved

with starting or tending an open fire. In addition, females in the 6-12

age group were involved frequently with playing with a flammable liquid

and an ignition source. Blouses, dresses, and slacks were the most frequent items reported for these age groups in the street wear group.

Females in the 21-45 and 66+ age groups were represented often in

the sleepwear group of fabric items where the garments reported frequently

were robes and nightgowns. For the elderly, the activity with which they were involved most often was using matches or lighters, generally for

smoking purposes.

Approximately half of the garment items in these 4 fabric groups for

both sexes were contaminated with a flammable liquid at ignition with no one age group predominating.

2.5.2.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

Females dominated the grease and other less volatile flammable

liquids incidents, almost 2 to 1 over males. For both sexes, interior

furnishings were reported most frequently as igniting first. In addition,

females were involved often with street wear and sleepwear.

Females in the 21-65 age range were the most frequent victims of

incidents for this intermediary material category. Females in the 21-45

age group were involved most often with interior furnishings (primarily

38
draperies or curtains) followed by street wear (mostly dresses). Females

in the 46-65 age group were involved most often with street wear (mostly

dresses) and sleepwear (primarily nightgowns).

Males from the age of 13 on were involved in this intermediary material category, but males in the 21-45 age group were represented most

frequently. This age group of males was represented most frequently in

the interior furnishings group where, again, draperies or curtains were

the items reported as igniting first most often.

Most of the interior furnishings, as was indicated, were curtains or draperies which ignited when the victims attempted to extinguish or remove

a flaming or smoking cooking utensil from the range. Although females in

the 21-65 age group v/ere injured often in these incidents while wearing

street wear, females, predominantly in the 45-65 age group, were injured

while wearing sleepwear garments. A trend has been noted previously in

the FFACTS data-'-^ of older women being injured frequently as the result of

wearing long, loose-fitting sleepwear while preparing food on the kitchen

range.

2.5.2.3. Gas Category

Males comprised 61 percent of the 46 victims representing first-toignite fabric items in the gas incidents. Street wear was reported most

frequently for both sexes as would be expected because of the nature of

the activities involved — primarily attempting to ignite the pilot light

on a gas appliance.

Sixty-two percent of the street wear ignitions for the males occurred

in the 21-65 age range. Shirts represented the majority of these street

wear items. Males in this age range were the only victims represented in

the outer wear group (jackets) and constituted the major portion of the

victims in the undervrear group (undershirts).

Ninety-one percent of the street wear ignitions for the females oc- curred in the 21-65 age range with the majority of the garment items being

sweaters and dresses. Females in this age range were represented most

frequently in the sleepwear group where robes /housecoats predominated.

2.5.2.4. Dry Explosives Category

Eight males and one female were represented in the dry explosives

incidents. Street wear (primarily shirts) was represented most frequently

followed by underwear (undershirts). Males in the 13-20 age group, which

represent the majority of the males for the category were involved most

frequently in both groups of garment items. As the incidents in this cate

gory involved explosions which were considered generally to have been caus by play-related activities, street wear would be expected to dominate the

garment items involved. The under^^ear (undershirt) involvement may re- flect the season.

-'-^Vickers, A. K. , Kitchen Ranges in Fabric Fires, Nat, Bur. Stand. (U.S.),

NBS Technical Note 817 (Apr, 1974).

39
2.6. Severity of Burn Injury

In table 12, the total body area burned is presented by age groups

and sex for each intermediary material category. For the two flammable

liquids categories, this information is presented by flammable liquid

contaminated and non-contaminated fabric groups.

Three hundred (45 percent) of the 668 victims reported for the

volatile flammable liquids category were injured while involved with

fabrics known to be contaminated with a flammable liquid at ignition.

One hundred eighty-six (28 percent) of the victims in this category

sustained injuries while involved with fabrics known not to be contaminated with a flammable liquid. The status of the fabrics with which

the remaining 182 (27 percent) victims were involved was uncertain;

therefore, these victims were omitted from the table.

In the contaminated fabrics group, 168 (56 percent) of the victims

sustained burn injuries covering less than 21 percent of their bodies;

115 of these victims sustained burn injuries covering only 1-10 percent

of their bodies. Only 6 percent of the victims sustained burn injuries

covering 61 percent or more of their bodies. In the non-contaminated

fabric group, 101 (54 percent) of the victims sustained burn injuries

covering less than 21 percent of their bodies. Similarly, 6 percent of

the victims in this fabric group sustained burn injuries covering 61

percent or more of their bodies. The distribution of injuries throughout the age and sex groups in these tables shows no indication that

fabric contamination substantially increased the severity of the burn

injuries received.

2.6.2. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

Twelve (30 percent) of the 40 victims reported for the grease and

other less volatile flammable liquids category were injured while involved

with fabrics contaminated with a flammable liquid. Sixteen (40 percent)

of the victims were involved with non-contaminated fabrics at the time

of the ignition. The majority of the victims from both of these tables

sustained burn injuries covering 10 percent or less of their bodies.

Only 2 victims sustained burn injuries covering 61 percent or more of

their bodies; both were from the non-contaminated fabric group. There

is no indication in these data that fabric contamination with a flammable liquid correlates with the severity of the burn injuries sustained.

Of the 141 victims represented in the gas incidents, 71 (50 percent)

sustained burn injuries covering less than 21 percent of their bodies;

49 of these victims received burn injuries covering only 1-10 percent of

2.6.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

2.6.3. Gas Category

40
Table 12. Total Body Area Burned by Afi'^ (Irciups and Sex

a. Volatile Flammable Liquids - Contaminated Fabrics

Pt^rpf^nf (if 0- 5 6- 12 13- 20 21-45 46- 65 66+ [ In Wntiun Body Burned M F M F M F M F M F M r M F Total

1-10% 2 2 31 2 29 2 24 5 14 2 1 1 115

11-20% 1 12 1 12 2 12 3 6 2 1 1 53 21-30% 2 1 7 3 8 1 14 2 4 2

c

-» - - 49

31-60% 5 1 8 3 8 3 11 5 2 2 1 49 61+% 1 1 1 2 1 4 6 2 1 19

Total Known 11 5 59 9 59 9 65 15 32 8 9 3 1 285

Unknown 1 4 2 1 5 1 ] 15

Total 12 5 63 9 61 10 70 15 33 8 9 3 1 1 300

Non-Contaminated Fabrics

Percent of ,

.

0- 5 6- 12 13- 20 21 -45 46- 65

Body Burned M F M F M F M F M F

1-10% 2 5 2 15 2 10 3 6 2 11-20% 13 4 9 2 13 2 4 1 21-30% 9 3 6 1 8 1 31-60% 2 2 4 7 13 1 4 1 61+% 3 1 2 5 1

Total Known 4 5 32 9 39 5 49 6 15 5

Unknown 1 1 4 1

Total 4 6 33 9 39 5 53 7 15 5

66+ Unknown

M F M F Total

- 3 - - 50

1 1 1 - 51 - - - - 28

- 1 - - 35

- - - - 12

1 5 1 - 176

- 2 1 - 10

1 7 2 - 186

*Tlie status of the fabrics with which 182 of the victims for the volatile flammable liquids were involved was uncertain; hence these victims are omitted from the table.

**Total body area burned includes partial and full thickness burns, where a partial thickness

burn is equivalent to a first or second degree burn and a full thickness burn is equivalent

to a third degree burn.

41
Table 12, Total Body Area Burned by A};e Groups and Sex (Cont inued)

b. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids - Contaminated Fabrics

Percent of 0-5 6-12 13-20 21- 45 46-65 66+ U 1 1 M lu w li Body Burned''"'^ M F M F M F M F M F M F M 1'' Total

1-10% 2 2 \ 5 11-20% - - 1 2 - - - - 3

.1 1 J U /o 9 2 31-60% - - - - - 1 - 1 - 20

Total Known 1 2 4 4 - 1 12

Unknown - - - -

Total - 1 2 4 4 1 9

Non-Contaminated Fabrics

Percent of 0-5 6-12 13-20 21- 45 46- 65 66+ TUI n V n (~>t«in lltS.LlUWL] Body Burned M F M F M F M F M F M F M F Total

1-10% 1 1 2 I _ 2 7 11-20% - - 1 _ - 10 31-60% - _ _ _ 1 _ 2 - 3 U J. I/O _ 1X. _ — — — _ 1X 2

Total Known _ 1X 1 2 3 3 - 3 13

_ 1 1 X

1 _ - 3

_ 1X _ 1X 1 2 3 1•x X J 16

c

.

Gas

Percent of 0-5 D— XZ 13-20 21- 45 46- 65 66+ —mUnknown

Body Burned M F fi r M F M F M F M F n r Total

X1 - X1 07U /o X 5 2 11 17 8 9 9 X — A Q 11-20% - 1 4 4 8 2 1 1 1 22

J. J U /o 3 4 1 4 17 31-60% 3 - 3 16 3 3 2 2 - 32

1 +7 X 1 1 6 9

Total Known 3 1 X 12 4 41 25 23 7 5 5

9 _ 129

Unknown 2 1 4 2 3 12

Total 3 1 1 14 5 45 27 26 7 5 5 2 141

"The status of the fabrics with which 12 of the victims for the grease and other less volatiL

flammable liquids were involved was uncertain; therefore these victims are omitted from the

table

.

**Total body area burned includes partial and full thickness burns, where a partial thickness

burn is equivalent to a first or second degree burn and a full thickness burn is equivalent

to a third degree burn.

42
Table 12. Total Body Area Biirnod by Age Groups and Sex (Continued)

d. Dry Explosives

Percent of

Body Burned**

0- M-5 F

6- M

12F13 M -20

F 21- M

45

F

46- M

-65

F 66+

M F UnknownM F Total

1-10% 3 1 4 11-20% - - 1 - 1 - 1 - - - - - - - 3 21-30% 1 1 31-60% - - - 3 - 1 - - - - 5 61+%

Total Known 2 7 3 1 13

Unknown 1 1

Total 2 8 3 1 14 Total body area burned includes partial and full thickness burns, where a partial thickness

burn is equivalent to a first or second degree burn and a full thickness burn is equivalent

to a third degree burn.

Only one female is represented in this table.

43
their bodies. Only 6 percent of the victims in this category sustained

burn injuries covering 61 percent or more of their bodies, mostly young

adults in the 21-45 age group. Thirty-two (23 percent) of the victims,

however, did receive burn injuries covering 31-60 percent of their bodies.

2.6.4. Dry Explosives Category

Five of the 13 victims in. this category of intermediary materials (36

percent), sustained burn injuries covering 31-60 percent of theif bodies.

Three of these 5 victims were males in the 13-20 age group. The one female in the dry explosives incidents, who was the only victim in the 46-

65 age group, also sustained burn injuries in the 31-60 percent range.

Most of the remaining victims received burn injuries that were much less severe. None of the victims for the dry explosives incidents sustained

burn injuries covering 61 percent of more of their bodies.

2.7. Injury Disposition

In table 13, injury disposition for the 863 victims of the 832

incidents studied are shown by intermediary material categories. The

greatest percentage of the victims for all categories were hospitalized

for treatment of their burn injuries. Since accident investigations are generally made immediately following the accidents without any follow-up

reports, it is not known what fraction of these hospitalized victims

survived. However, entries have been made for those victims who were

reported to have been hospitalized and subsequently died or were dead upon

arrival at a hospital.

2.7.1. Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

Of the 668 victims involved in the volatile flammable liquids incidents, 488 (73 percent) were hospitalized, 50 (7 percent) died in the

hospital; and one was dead on arrival. Another 102 victims were' treated

and released while 9 only required first aid at the scene of the accident.

More than 75 percent of the children through the age of 12 and youth

through the age of 20 were hospitalized for treatment of their Injuries.

The majority of the remaining infants and toddlers died in the hospital,

while most of the remaining older children and youth were treated and

released from the hospital.

Approximately 75 percent of the adults were hospitalized for treatment of their injuries. Most of the remaining adults in the 21-45 and 46-

65 age groups were treated and released while the majority of the re- maining elderly adults were reported to have died in the hospital.
Table 13. Injury Disposition of Victims by Age Groups and Sex

a

,

Volatile Flammab le Liquids

0 -5 6--12 13--20 21-45 46- 65 66+ Unknown

Disposition M F M F M F M F M F M F M F Total

First Aid Only 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 9 Treated & Released 3 1 11 3 22 3 31 8 16 2 1 1 102

Hospitalized 18 10 101 17 100 16 120 21 52 9 14 9 1 - 488

Dead on Arrival 1 1 Died in Hospital 5 5 6 2 5 1 9 3 5 4 4 1 - - 50

No Treatment

Necessary 1 1

Total Known 26 16 120 22 129 20 162 33 74 16 18 13 2 651

Unknown 1 1 1 4 1 4 1 1 2 1 17

Total 27 16 121 23 133 21 166 34 75 16 18 13 4 1 668

b, Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liq uids

0- 5 6--12 13--20 21- 45 46- 65 66+ Unknown

Disposition M F M F M F M F M F M F M F Total

Treated & Released 1 4 5 1 1 2 14

Hospitalized - 1 3 3 5 1 6 1 20

Died in Hospital - - 1 2 3 No Treatment

Necessary 1 1 2

Total Known 1 1 3 1 7 11 1 7 2 5 39

Unknown 1 1

Total 1 1 3 1 7 11 2 7 2 5 40

45
Table 13. Injury Disposition of Victims by Age Groups and Sex (Continued)

c. Gas

0-5 6-12

Disposition M F M F 13-20 21-45 46-65 66+ MF M FMFMF Unknown

M F Total

First Aid Only - Treated & Released

Hospitalized 3 Dead on Arrival - Died in Hospital

No Treatment

Necessary

Total Known

Unknown

Total

3 1

3 1

2 3 7 14 7 1 10 1 35 13 18 5

13

1

14

45 27 26

45 27 26

1 3 2 1

2 1

5 5

5 5

3990

1

10

0

140

1

141

d. Dry Explosives

Disposition

0-5

M F 6-12 13-20 21-45 46-65 66+ Unknown MF MF M FMFMFM F Total

Treated & Released

Hospitalized

Total

4 10

14
1.1.1. Grease and Other Less Volatile Flammable Liquids Category

Twenty (50 percent) of the 40 victims involved in the grease and

other less volatile flammable liquids incidents were hospitalized; 80

percent were adults age 21 and over. Three (8 percent) of the victims in

the incidents were known to have died in a hospital; two were elderly and one was a child. Thirty-five percent of the victims, all from the youth

and adult age groups, were treated at a hospital and released while for

the remaining two victims, both adults, no treatment was necessary.

2.7.3. Gas Category

Ninet}' (64 percent) of the 141 victims from the gas incidents were

hospitalized; 84 percent of these victims were adults age 21 and over and

12 percent were youth ages 13-20. Eleven (8 percent) of the victims were

reported to have died; the 7 victims from the youth and adult age groups

died in a hospital and the eighth victim, a toddler, was dead on arrival

at the hospital. Thirty-nine (28 percent) of the victims were treated at

the hospital and released.

2.7.4. Dry Explosives Category

Ten (71 percent) of the 14 victims involved in dry explosives incidents were hospitalized for treatment of the burn injuries they sustained.

The remaining 4 victims (29 percent) were treated at a hospital and re- leased.

3. SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION

In a FFACTS data base of 3,043 cases, 863 victims were involved in

832 separate incidents where intermediary materials in the form of flammable liquids, gas, and other explosive materials were present in the

ignition sequence. It should be remembered that the incidents selected

for FFACTS do not constitute a statistically representative sample of all

all fabric fire accidents in the United States and that percentages estimated from small sample sizes are subject to large uncertainties. The

FFACTS data base was used for this study even though it is structured to

collect detailed information about fabrics involved in fire incidents.

The information obtained from these case history reports concerning flammable liquids, gas, and other explosive materials was additional information provided by the field investigators in their attempt to depict as accurately and precisely as possible the sequence of events which led to

the ignition of fabric items. Therefore, the information contained in

this paper relates to fabric-ignited fires only and cannot be considered

as typical or conclusive of flammable liquid or explosive types of ignitions .

47
I

Of the four intermediary material categories studied, volatile flammable liquids were reported in 77 percent of the incidents and gas was

reported in 16 percent of the incidents. Grease and other less volatile

flammable liquids and dry explosives, collectively, represented 7 percent

of the incidents. Gasoline was the single most frequently reported intermediary material representing 462 (56 percent) of the 832 incidents studied.

Male victims outnumbered females more than 3 to 1 in these incidents.

Males dominated the volatile flammable liquids, gas, and dry explosives

categories where most of the activities which led to the ignition sequence

are traditionally considered male oriented. Female injuries dominated

in the grease and other less volatile flammable liquids category in a nearly 2 to 1 ratio over the males. Most of these incidents involved

kitchen ranges where food preparation activities generally triggered the

ignition sequence. ^ . , . , .

When the victims of all of the incidents studied were divided into

six age groups, young adults in the 21-45 age group were found to be

involved most frequently followed by youth, ages 13-20. Young adults

and youth are often involved in many tasks for which it is necessary to

become involved with flammable liquids and/or gas, but older adults,

particularly those in the 46-65 age range, are involved frequently with

many of these tasks also. One possible explanation for the high injury

rates for the young adults and youth could be a lack of knowledge or experience in performing the tasks and/or working with flammable liquids

and other explosive products. For the youth this explanation can be

expanded to include "playing" or "experimenting" with these dangerous

materials

.

The frequency of involvement for the youngest and oldest age groups

was rather low when compared to the other age groups used in this study.

However, ther^ was a tendency for these victims to sustain more severe burn injurieSi which resulted either in more extensive medical treatment

or death. For the young, this may indicate the lack of development of

motor skills and communicative abilities necessary to effectively handle

a fire situation. 13 These skills and abilities are better developed in

older children as reflected in the data presented throughout this paper

for children in the 6-12 age range. In general, the activities reported

for these children were more sophistocated , the burn injuries sustained

less severe, and the medical attention required less drastic.-'-^ For

the elderly, the absence of involvement in these types of incidents may

indicate deterioration in manual dexterity and physical coordination which

would prevent them from becoming involved in activities connected with

these hazardous products.

13Tyrrell, E. A., Fire Accidents Involving the Ignition of Sleepwear Worn

by Children Under the Age of Three, Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Technical

Note 815 (Feb. 1974)

.

•'-^Another comprehensive study relating the accident patterns for victims

in these age groups is reported in Tyrrell, E. A., Gasoline and Gasoline

Container Fire Incidents, Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Technical Note 850

(Jan. 1975).

48
For these 832 incidents, 466 fabric items were known to have been

f irst-to-ignite items. Street wear, primarily shirts/blouses, was the

group of fabric items reported as being f irst-to-ignite most frequently

for the volatile flammable liquids, gas, and dry explosives categories.

Interior furnishings, mostly draperies/curtains, were reported most

frequently as being f irst-to-ignite in the grease and other less volatile

flammable liquids category.

Forty-eight percent of the f irst-to-ignite fabric items reported in

the volatile flammable liquids incidents and 30 percent of those in the

grease and other less volatile flammable liquids incidents were contaminated with a flammable liquid at ignition. Seventy-one percent of these

contaminated fabrics were street wear garments in the volatile flammable

liquids incidents while only one item from the interior furnishings

fabric group in the grease and other less volatile flammable liquids

incidents was contaminated.

Similar percentages for fabric contamination were observed in these

two categories of incidents when order of ignition was disregarded. The

distribution of injury rates for the victims of these 2 categories by

age group and sex did not indicate that the severity of the burn injury

sustained increased with fabric contamination. In general, most of these

victims sustained burn injuries covering only 1-10 percent of their bodies.

Many of the victims of the gas and dry explosives incidents, however,

sustained burn injuries covering 31-60 percent of their bodies. This

level of injury was probably influenced by the fact that these incidents were caused by an explosion.

The greatest percentage of the victims for all categories were hospitalized for treatment of their burn injuries. No more than 8 percent of

the victims — all from the first 3 categories of intermediary materials — were reported to have died in a hospital. Many of the victims who

died in the hospital or were reported dead on arrival were infants and

toddlers, and elderly adults.

Educational programs prepared for the various communications media

are needed to educate the public in not only the properties and characteristics of the many flammable liquids and explosive products found on the

market but also the manufacturer's intended use of these products which

has made them so readily accessible to the consuming public. One of the

most effective ways of capturing the attention of the public is to

describe or show the consequences of using these products with indifference — the severely burned or maimed victim. Perhaps only if the public

understands the magnitude of the results of casually or erroneously using

these products will it be receptive to the information prepared to explain

how to properly select, use, and store these hazardous materials in the

home

.

-•-^Tyrrell , E . A. , Gasoline and Gasoline Container Fire Incidents, Nat. Bur.

Stand. (U.S.), Technical Note 850 (Jan. 1975).

49
APPENDIX A. THE FLAMMABLE FABRICS ACCIDENT

CASE AND TESTING SYSTEM (FFACTS)

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Flammable Fabrics Accident

Case and Testing System (FFACTS) was developed under the mandate of the

Flammable Fabrics Act, as amended in 19671. The System was implemented

in 1970 with case histories dating back to 1967. The Consumer Product

Safety Act of 19722 transferred the responsibilities of the Flammable

Fabrics Act to the new Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) , but

NBS continues to provide technical support to the Commission which,

until December 1974, included the maintenance and analysis of data

incorporated in FFACTS.

The primary source of the accident data incorporated in the FFACTS

data base is in-depth investigative reports on flammable fabric accidents

supplied to NBS by the Bureau of Product Safety, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prior to the inception of CPSC. Using report forms originally

developed by NBS and FDA, investigators from FDA and other participating

organizations followed and reported on accidental fires involving fabric

products from around the country. This activity is currently conducted by

the 14 CPSC Area Offices around the country. These reports, together with

any availafsle remains of fabric products involved, were sent to the Office

of Information and Hazard Analysis, Center for Fire Research (NBS), for

processing. If the reports met the FFACTS requirement of relevance and

adequacy, the fabrics, if any, were analyzed for fiber composition, fabric

construction, and weight. If appropriate test methods existed, flammability characteristics for these fabrics were also determined. The information from the accident reports was then reviewed in light of results of

the laboratory tests, coded, and entered into the FFACTS computerized data

base. Some 130 different data elements can be coded for an incident.

It should be noted that the incidents chosen for FFACTS are not

selected on a statistical basis and therefore, do not constitute a statistically representative sample of, all fabric fire accidents in the

United States. However, they do represent events investigated without

known preference and, therefore, may be roughly representative of incidents reported to the agencies from which the CPSC and others obtain

accident data.

iThe Flammable Fabrics Act, 81 Stat. 568, 15 U.S.C. 1191, as amended

and revised Dec. 14, 1967.

^Consumer Product Safety Act. 86 Stat. 1221, 15 U.S.C. 2064B, May 14, 1973.

50
APPENDIX B. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM USED FOR OBTAINING IGNITION

SOURCES AND IGNITION-CAUSING ACTIVITIES

B.l. IGNITION SOURCES

HEATERS

1. Furnace (gas)

2. Space heater

3. Hot water heater

4. Unspecified heater

5. Other heater

APPLIANCES

6. Clothes dryer

7. Electric range

8. Gas range

9. Light bulbs

10. Camp stove

11. Other

OTHER OBJECTS

12. Electrical wiring

13. Extension cord

14. Lantern/ candles

15. Open fire (unspecified)

16. Fireplace

17. Camp fire

18. Incinerator

19. Charcoal grill

20. Hot coals or smoldering sticks

21. Smoking materials (unspecified)

22. Cigarette

23. Cigar/pipe

24. Matches or lighter

25. Matches

26. Lighter

27. Cutting/welding torch and other special ignition sources

28. Other work tools

29. Combustion engine

30. Fireworks

31. Sparks or shorts

32. Miscellaneous

33. Unknown

51
B.2. IGNITION-CAUSING ACTIVITIES

1. Playing with a flammable liquid and an ignition source

2. Playing with a flammable liquid

3. Playing with matches or lighter

4. Playing with open fire

5. Starting or tending an open fire type 1 (camp fire, fireplace, grill,

incinerator, etc.)

6. Starting or tending an open fire type 2 (bonfire, fire to clear brush.

leaves, etc.)

7. Stirring, stomping, or disturbing an open fire

8. Standing by an open fire (flammable liquid on clothes)

9. Warming self

10. Standing near a flammable liquid

11. Standing near explosive or ignition source - gas appliance (flammable

liquid may be on clothes)

12. Transferring a flammable liquid

13. Carrying or transporting a flammable liquid

14. Refueling power machinery and vehicles

15. Spilling or splashing a flammable liquid

16. Knocking over or dropping container of a flammable liquid

17. Cleaning or repairing machinery or equipment

18. Priming carburetor

19. Using machinery or equipment (using or attempting to use lanterns,

appliances, vehicles, etc., when malfunctioning or explosion occurred)

20. Using welding torch, soldering iron, or other work tools which resulted

in being ignition source equipment

21. Using matches or lighter

22. Using a flammable liquid as a cleaning agent (solvent)

23. Using a flammable liquid as an exterminating agent

24. Using a flammable liquid to ignite a heating source

25. Smoking

26. Driving or riding in automobile, tractor, motorcycle, airplane, etc.

(collision, etc.)

27. Helping another person involved in an ignition incident

28. Suspected arson

29. Assault/suicide

30. Miscellaneous

31. Unknown

USCOMM-NBS DC

52-

, .tA..
NBS-lUA (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1, l^UHLICATION OR Rl':in)R'r NO. NBSIR 75-784

2. Gov't Acccs.sion No.

3. Recipient's Acccs.sion No.

4. TI TLE AND SUBTITLF,

Fire Incidents Involving Flammable Liquids, Gas, and

Dry Explosives

5. Publication Date October 1975

6. Performing Organization ('ode

7. AUTHOR(S)

Elaine A. Tyrrell

8. Performing Organ. Report No. IR 75-784

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 4193677

11. Contract/Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

same as No. 9

13. Type of Report 8d Period Covered

r ma1

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary ol most si^ificant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.) From the NBS Flammable Fabrics Accident Case and Testing System as of December

1973, flammable liquids, gas, and dry explosives were found to be involved in 832

incidents, injuring 863 victims. Volatile flammable liquids represented 77 percent

of the incidents; 72 percent of these liquids were gasoline. Male victims outnumbered females more than 3 to 1. Young adults, ages 21-45, and youth, ages 13-20, were injured most frequently. Children and youth were injured primarily through

what was considered as play activities. Adults generally were injured while engaged

in activities traditionally considered as being oriented to the particular sex involved. Streetwear, particularly shirts/blouses, was reported most frequently as igniting first. Thirty-six percent of the fabrics represented in these incidents were contaminated with a flammable liquid. Most of the victims sustained burn

injuries covering 1-10 percent of their bodies; only 6 percent sustained burn

injuries covering 61 percent or more of their bodies. Most of the victims were hospitalized for treatment of their injuries. Although the very young and the

elderly were involved in these incidents less frequently than other age groups,

they generally were burned more severely and represented 46 percent of the victims

who died in the hospital or were dead on arrival.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons) Accidents; burn injuries; burn severity; explosives; fabric

fires; FFACTS ; flammable liquids; gas; gasoline; ignition-causing activities;

Ignition sources; injury disposition.

18. AVAILABILITY Unlimited

I For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

I

^ Order From Sup. of Doc, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402, SD Cat. No. CH

I X| Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151

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(THIS REPORT)

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21. NO. OF PAGES

5a

22. Price

$ 3-75

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