A total of 249 people lost their lives in 2023 due to a fire or explosion in 2023, the highest figure since 2010, according to the study ‘Victims of Fires and Explosions in Spain 2023’, presented this Monday by the MAPFRE Foundation and the Professional Association of Firefighter Technicians (APTB) with the aim of providing accurate information about this type of events.
Throughout 2023, it is estimated that more than 131,500 fires or explosions in Spain, 28,312 in buildings and 18,512 in homes.
House fires
One of the most relevant data in this report, which is carried out with official data from the Forensic Anatomical Institute, are the 173 deaths in homes (3 less than in 2022), above the 76 who died in other industrial or leisure facilities, including “the thirteen who died in the Murcia nightclub”, remembers Carlos Touriñánpresident of the APTB. In homes, the deceased are mainly men (102, 59% of the total), in fires that start mostly in the living room (48.8%). The second most “dangerous” space in the house is the bedroom, with 27.6% of deaths, and, in third place, the kitchen, with 10.6% of deaths.
The over 64 years old They are once again the highest risk group, with almost one in two victims (49.1%: 85 deaths), in terms of the total number of deaths in housing. From 2023, Touriñán highlights the number of child deaths in Galicia, “partly due to the death of a family that had three children“.
The time zone with the most deadly fires at home is the nocturnalwith more than 102 certified deaths (58.9%) between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.; compared to the 65 (37.6%) that occurred between 08:00 and 20:00.
One more year, homes located in blocks of buildings were the ones that suffered the most fatalities (61.8%), compared to the single family (38.2%). This situation has been repeated in recent years, which shows the trend towards a greater number of fatalities in residential buildings, where more people also live.
In 2023, 76.9% of deaths due to fire or explosion were recorded during the week (44, on Wednesday and 26, on Monday); and 23.1% on the weekend. Furthermore, the risk of dying in a fire is multiplied by 3 in people who live alone.
The majority, due to intoxication
Among the causes of death due to fire in the home, the inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, which caused the death of 135 people (78%). The second cause of death is burnswith 19.1%, and in third and fourth place, with a lower percentage, the trauma (1.2%) and others injuries (0.5%).
From the data confirmed in the report, in 2023, house fires and explosions were mainly caused by failures in electrical devices, which caused 36 victims, followed by fireplaces, stoves, braziers and other heat producers, which caused 27 victims.
“Increasingly we have more appliances that work by electricity, and accidents occur due to short circuits, overloading of sockets,” explains Touriñán, who asks not to forget the number of deaths still in Spain due to heat producers: “braziers or stoves under stretcher tables in rural and cold inland areas,” he describes.
In fact, during the year 2023, A total of 150 people (60%) lost their lives between January and March and between October and Decemberwhich makes it clear that fire mortality is directly related to low temperatures and the use of heating systems.
Catalonia, the most affected region
In absolute terms, Catalonia It was the Autonomous Community with the highest number of fatalities due to fire, with 46; followed by Andalusiawith 42; and the Valencian Communitywith 37 deaths.
In relation to those killed by fires in dwellingthe autonomous community with the highest number of victims in 2023 was Andalusiawith 32 deaths. The second was Cataloniawith 31, followed by Valencian Communitywith 27.
Deaths in residences
The nursing homes They are centers especially vulnerable to fatalities from fires due to the difficulty of quickly evacuating their occupants. In the last 10 years (until 2023), residences have recorded a total of 48 deaths due to fire.
As preventive measures, experts highlight the importance of these healthcare centers having early warning and automatic extinction systems; promote continuous training of workers and reinforce inspections by prevention services.
Expert recommendations
To prevent a fire, Fundación MAPFRE and the APTB propose simple guidelines such as, do not overload electrical installationsand specifically the plugs, do not neglect candles, pans or irons; never leave the chymenea or combustion stoves lit at night or without completely extinguishing them, including embers; avoid the use of braziers and similar devices that are old or not approved; and do not use fuel or accelerants to light or fan fires in fireplaces, stoves…
They also advise being careful with the use of certain electrical devices, such as a radiator or heaterthat They should never be covered or brought close to clothing or curtains, and that a licensed electrician check that the electrical installations are not obsolete for the electrical load currently required by certain appliances, such as ceramic or induction hobs, clothes dryers or air conditioning systems.
In addition, all electrical installations must have protection elements, both for people (differential switch) and for circuits (small automatic switches), and always without forgetting the necessary ground connection. In this sense, it is recommended that the installations of homes over 30 years old be checked by professionals, especially regarding the possible existence of elements such as cable splices and plugs in poor condition.
Close the door on the fire
Experts also recommend learn to identify gas leaks which, although rare, can cause an explosion. If a leak occurs, it is easy to recognize it by its smell (similar to rotten egg). In this situation you should not touch any switch (to avoid generating a spark) and it is very important to open the window to ventilate the space and call the firefighters from another room.
They also emphasize the importance of learn how to use a fire extinguisher, install a smoke detector, which costs about 20 euros and can save the lives of residents, especially in night fires, teach schoolchildren where the emergency exits in their building are and that they should not hide under beds or inside cabinets if a fire breaks out, as this would make it difficult for firefighters to rescue them.
Furthermore, if there is no danger, you should try to put out the fire and, if you cannot, alert all occupants of the home to carry out the evacuation in an agile and orderly mannerand closing the door to the fire (so that it does not spread). You must leave in the shortest time possible, without collecting anything except the keys to the house to hand them to the firefighters upon arrival. Without using the elevator, and already on the street, it is advisable to call 112.
If you cannot leave because there is fire or smoke on the stairs, you should call 112, close all doors in your path, cover the cracks with damp cloths, Take refuge in the room furthest from the fire and, if possible, have a window so you can be seen from it and, without losing your calm, wait for the arrival of the firefighters.