Taipei City Fire Department

According to Taipei City Fire Department, a total of 1,637 fires occurred in the past year (2021), causing 11 deaths and 23 injuries. The dominating cause of fire was Cooking (40.2%). However, Electricity was the most common cause of fire with casualties, accounting for 32.4% of all casualties.
Further analysis shows that most home cooking fires are caused by over-cooking (90.9%). The common situation is that the cook leaves kitchen for other things without turning off the stove, leading the food continuously being heated to scorch. Although Cooking was the leading cause last year, fortunately, there was no casualty. When cooking, one should be attentive to the fire source and avoid any distractions. Choose the stove with safety devices, like flame-out protection or temperature sensor, if needed. If one needs to leave due to an urgent matter, immediately turn off the fire source. When simmering for an extended period, it is recommended to set up an alarm as a reminder to prevent a disaster.
The leading cause of fire with casualties was Electricity, causing 4 deaths and 11 injuries. Further analysis shows that the top three origins of fire are the kitchen, living room and bedroom. To prevent electrical fires, the public should not only use the appliances properly, but inspect the cords and electrical outlets periodically, especially those in the kitchen, living room and bedroom. Follow the principles of “5 don’ts and 1 no” for electrical fire prevention: don’t overload the circuit, don’t damage wires, don’t dampen or soil the plug, don’t plug in when not in use, and no combustibles around the appliances.
The Fire Department reminds the public that Cooking and Electricity have occupied the top two causes in Taipei City for 5 years. People should pay more attention when using stoves and electrical appliances, and create a safer and livable environment by developing good habits.