Older people are at greatest risk.
The risk of fire death for Americans age 65 and over is three times greater than the risk for adults under 65. Hospital stays of more than 40 days are common for elderly burn victims. There Are Five Leading Causes of Fires at Home Heating sources, like furnaces, woodstoves and space heaters. A Smoke Detector Can Make The Difference 80 percent of all fire deaths take place in residences not equipped with working smoke detectors. Smoke detectors can provide early warning of fires, allowing time for families to escape and firefighters to arrive before the fire grows.