Fire Prevention for NYC-Area Landlords: Protect Your Tenants and Property

The holiday season may be behind us, but we’re in the heart of the winter fire season, with home heating—particularly space heaters—a leading cause of home fires and fire-related injuries. Thirty percent of home fires occur during the colder months, which means that 70% of home fires take place during the rest of the year. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) estimates more than 374,000 residential fires in 2022, with roughly half caused by cooking.

The leading catastrophic insurance claim, fires can be especially devastating in a multi-family dwelling. The following tips can protect your tenants and your property from fire.

Fire Prevention: Risk Management for Landlords

Consider the following questions as you assess fire risks for your residential building:

• How often does the building require inspections? Frequency requirements for inspections vary, but the fire department typically performs them at no cost. Schedule an inspection, and follow all recommendations.
• How often do residents check smoke detectors? The New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) recommends monthly testing. Where applicable, batteries should be replaced twice a year. (It’s a good idea to replace the batteries in carbon monoxide detectors at the same time.) · Do residents know how to operate fire extinguishers? Consider posting a safety poster reminding residents of the PASS method:
  • Pull the pin
  • Aim toward the base of the fire
  • Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly
  • Sweep from side to side
• How often do you conduct building fire drills? Annual fire drills are effective at getting people’s attention and educating them on fire safety. These events also let tenants know that you care about their well-being.
• Have you considered banning fire hazards, like storage of combustibles or portable indoor fireplaces?

Fire Prevention Tips for Tenants

Even a small blaze can cause significant damage. Fire safety is definitely an area where preventive effort far outweighs the aggravation of recovery. Below are fire prevention tips for the top causes of fires, as reported by the National Fire Protection Association.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, resulting in more than 170,000 fires per year and claiming 550 lives annually.

• Never leave a stove unattended.
• Turn off burners and oven as soon as you finish cooking.
• Clean the stove and oven to avoid grease buildup.
• Keep flammable items (kitchen towels, paper or plastic bags, etc.) at least three feet from the stove.
• Keep children and pets away from the stove.

Heating equipment is responsible for nearly 41,000 fires each year and an estimated 470 deaths. Forty-six percent of these fires involve stationary or portable space heaters, accounting for 76% of the deaths and 72% of the injuries from home heating fires.

• Keep flammable items at least three feet away.
• Don’t use an extension cord with a space heater.

Electrical fires cause an estimated average of 32,620 fires each year, resulting in 430 civilian deaths and $1.3 billion in property damage.

• Use a power strip.
• Don’t overload outlets.
• Unplug items when not in use.
• Inspect cords and repair any frayed or damaged wires.
• Repair any outlets that are not working.
• Hire a qualified electrician for any electrical work.

Candles are linked to an estimated 5,910 fires, 74 deaths and 558 injuries on average each year.

• Use sturdy candle holders that won’t tip.
• Place candles on a stable, uncluttered surface.
• Never burn candles unattended.
• Don’t light candles in bedrooms and other areas where people may fall asleep.
• Keep candles away from flammable items, like curtains and other décor—at least one foot.
• Free Fire Prevention Resources for Landlord

Free Fire Prevention Resources for Landlords

Several organizations, including the New York City Fire Department, offer free fire prevention resources that landlords can download and share with tenants.

• New York City Fire Department. FDNY publishes various fire safety resources for download, such as tip sheets on escape planning and senior fire safety, as well as a children’s activity book. Many of these fire prevention resources are available in multiple languages.
• U.S. Fire Administration. Part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the USFA offers videos and handouts for preventing fires from a wide range of sources, including appliances, lithium batteries and cooking.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA website features an extensive library of home fire safety information, from season-specific fire prevention to guidance on fire safety equipment.

Also, the risk management professionals at City Building Owners Insurance can provide specific guidance to help you decrease your risk of a blaze and improve your overall property profile.

If you have any questions about insurance or to get a free insurance policy review, contact our office at 877-576-5200.