Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Thousands of deaths and injuries occur each year as the result of children playing with fire.   More often than not, preschoolers and kindergarten age boys and girls are responsible for fire accidents, primarily because they have played with matches and lighters.  Sadly they are most likely to die from burn injuries.

 Children & Fire:  Facts & Figures

In 2006 children playing with fire started an estimated 14,500 structural fires

• 63% of all fire-related playing fatalities are children 5 and under
• Matches and lighters are involved in 80% of deaths and injuries started by children while playing

 Just last week a Tampa family was forced to leave their house due to a fire started by their 8-year-old child while his mother was away.  The boy who had been playing with matches set fire to a mattress that had been leaning against the house.  The fire erupted through the wood framed house and spread to the attic.  The damages were said to be worth $75,000.  The flames were so intense that the vinyl siding on a neighbor’s house was melted.  Fortunately, there were no injuries. 

Although this fire appears to have occurred outside of the home, the National Fire Protection Association states that people have nearly a 50% better chance of surviving a residential fire if their home has the recommended number of smoke alarms. Click on the link for additional safety tips provided by the National Fire Protection Association.

Clearwater Florida Child Burn Injury lawyer, working to make safety every child’s reality.