8 people die in multiple early morning fires across Japan

8 people die in multiple early morning fires across Japan

Mostly are elders, that's not coincident.

I agree we have similar elderly occurrences. But EIGHT across jpn same night, I agree it is coincident, u nose me place with far smaller population, temps dropping for weeks, big drop in non-urban two days b4. two x same case. We have cold warnings check on elderly whatever. common stuff at the cold hit. but old guys often mean old utilities? sorryful.

Probably caused by heaters, especially the kerosene types.

Wallace - we'll have to wait and see about whether kerosene or not - but hazarding a guess you're probably right.

Kerosene such a dirty, polluting dangerous fuel that should be rapidly phased out anyway.

But some people appear to have an addiction to it - and not just because of the price.

Some kind of nostalgia.

Official data though - Winter house fires and kerosene go hand in hand.

Sorry so many had to die last night.

Over heated electrical wires is one of the main reasons homes catch fire, Kerosene heaters in second, and last is gas stoves. Older homes running on 25,30,40, amps are just too low to handle the load , if you live in one of these places have a electrician do a load test and see if you need to upgrade the amperage .

Where are we at with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Japan? Some years back, I installed both throughout my mother and father in-laws' and my sister in-law's houses, as they didn't have them. Moreover, -and more worrying- they had no idea they needed them. Apparently their homeowners insurance companies weren't on it, either. The local Home Depot-type stores had a decent selection of them, though.

I figured that must be pretty common over there, not to use them. Is it still the case?

Some years ago it became law landlords had to install fire detectors in their properties. But no requirement for owners.