Recently, the Alberta Motor Association reminded residents to be careful when heating their homes this winter and reminded them of fire safety, as data from Statistics Canada has shown house-fire-related deaths more than double, on average, between December and March in comparison to the summer months, with January being the peak month for house fire-related deaths. 

When comparing this data with Airdrie, the city has fared extremely well, since in the 325 house fires that occurred from 2012 to 2021, no deaths resulted from the fires. However, the leading cause of house fires in Airdrie has been smoking, accounting for 85 fires and six injuries in the past nine years. Unknown causes have accounted for 46 fires, while cooking and arson followed as the leading causes of house fires. 

Smoking, cooking, and arson are the leading causes of house fires in Airdrie. (Statistics Office of the Fire Commissioner, Alberta Municipal Affairs/ Airdrie Fire Department)provided by Smoking, cooking, and arson are the leading causes of house fires in Airdrie. (Statistics provided by Office of the Fire Commissioner, Alberta Municipal Affairs/ Airdrie Fire Department)

Airdrie Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention and Public Education, James Kostuk, explained that the fires that are caused by smoking can occur when someone improperly disposes of a cigarette butt.

"'It's as simple as someone discard[ing] their cigarette into a flowerpot, which actually has peat moss and can burn. People aren't smoking in their homes like they used to; they're in the garage or they're outside the home and they're not using proper disposal methods for putting out their cigarettes. That's where we're seeing a high intake of fires in Airdrie."

Statistics Canada also cited that at least one in five unintentional residential fire-related deaths were caused by cigarettes or other smoking materials.

"According to a Health Canada report using data collected by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, fires started by cigarettes resulted in more deaths than fires started by other sources," a report by Statistics Canada stated. "From 2011 to 2020, the coroner or medical examiner reported that the fire was ignited by a cigarette, cigarette lighter, pipe or other material used for smoking in at least 20 per cent of residential fire-related deaths." 

While Statistics Canada stated that one of the causes of the increased risk of residential house fires in the winter months can be attributed to the increased use of heaters and wood-burning stoves, Deputy Chief Kostuk also underlined that there can also be a higher risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

He added that while different seasons of the year bring different fire risks, all of which the fire department tries to educate the public about, he underlined that when it comes to the winter months, those who have a high-efficiency furnace, or a hot water tank should be vigilant of the ice build-up on the exhaust pipe outside the home.

"[With] snow piling up or [with] the cold weather because there's a lot of humidity, there's an ice buildup. So, in the cold months, you need to go on the side of your house, see where your air intake is and make sure you clear that off so that you don't have to build up ice or snow."

Between 2012 and 2021, the highest number of fires in Airdrie occurred not in the winter, but in May, with 68 occurring, while January saw 43 fires. The most common area of origin of a fire occurred on a court, patio, or terrace, while the second-most common area of origin was a kitchen or cooking area. This past year, saw the most fires in Airdrie, totalling 77 fires, an increase from 2021, which saw 54. 

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com