COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With Daylight Saving ending on Sunday, the American Red Cross and Fire officials are encouraging people to take the time change as a reminder to check their smoke alarms and ensure they’re working properly. The City of Columbia reported over 50 residential fires, with 267 incidents tied to smoke alarms and 295 fire alarm concerns from the time period of Nov.
5, 2023 to March 9, 2024. As temperatures drop, more people rely on heating sources to stay warm, increasing the risk of fires. Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Fire Chief Gale Blomenkamp said that flue fires become more common during the colder months.
"We do have flu fires, obviously, because in the summertime we're not burning fireplaces and wood stoves. So, we do see an increase in flue fires," Blomenkamp said. With the holiday season approaching, Blomenkamp also noted that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires, especially as families prepare festive meals.
"Cooking fires are still the number one cause. And so yeah, you have that holiday cooking. You have a lot of distractions when people are home in those holiday seasons and so I think the chance or the opportunity for a structure fire may be higher," Blomenkamp said.
"I don't know that the numbers actually dictate or would reflect that." The U.S.
Fire Administration warns that fires can spread rapidly, filling a home with thick black smoke within minutes. Experts recommend having a two-minute escape plan and practici.