New IBHS Article Highlights Risks Posed by Fire Following Earthquakes
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) October 20, 2011
A new article from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety asserts that the risk of fire following an earthquake often gets overshadowed by other equally serious quake-related issues, such as ground shaking, landslides, surface faults, and tsunamis.
?Earthquakes are a destructive, unpredictable force of nature that can cause truly catastrophic damage to entire cities or regions,? said Julie Rochman, president & CEO, IBHS. ?Several studies focused on fire following earthquake paint a somber picture of likely consequences.?
The greatest concern centers on preventing spot or smaller fires from growing into conflagrations, which consume large areas, and can result in high fatality and injury rates. Fortunately, taking proactive measures to reduce the number of ignitions can significantly reduce the risk of fire in the aftermath of a major earthquake.
?It is critical to take steps that can reduce the number of fire ignitions following earthquakes, particularly in areas with greater potential for fires to become conflagrations,? Rochman said. ?IBHS? new article, After the Shaking Stops: A Communitywide Approach to Managing Post-Quake Fires, identifies the factors that communities should evaluate to help determine their risk for fire following earthquake.?
Rochman added that this is an excellent time for communities to consider the risk of post-quake fire as California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon prepare to hold Great Shakeout earthquake drills on October 20 ? so more than 8 million people will be focused on these issues as they drill an practice how best to survive a quake.
According to the IBHS? literature survey and analysis, there are several ways to reduce the risk of fire following earthquake. Not surprisingly, reducing shake damage to a building in the first place is one of the best ways to reduce the potential for ignitions. In addition, other methods of reducing fire ignitions from earthquakes include:
