House Fires in Japan

[canman]

Why are there so many house fires in Japan? Is it because of the inferior heating style they use. Or the lack of smoke detectors? Now I could be way off base, but there seems to be at least if not everyday, every second day another house fire that claims a few lives. I know that we have fires in Canada where it is cold as well, but I don't think they happen with the frequency that they happen here. And the two things that I can think of that are different are central heating, and smoke detectors. I'm not sure about the safety of kotatsus、 but I don't trust them.

[GuyJean]

.. Or the lack of smoke detectors?..

What's a 'smoke detector'? ]asked about them before[/URL] but wasn't impressed with the choices I had at DonQi Death Trap; 5,000 yen each.

There are some good suggestions in the linked thread above, but I opted for 3-12.95 jobbers from Amazon. The bummer was they didn't ship abroad, so I had a beg family members to send them to me..

GJ

[MrUltimateGaijin]

[canman]

Luckily when I was on Misawa base, my friend was able to buy me a couple for the low low price of $10 each. The same were about Y5000 at the local home center. What a ripoff. Also I picked up a timer for $4.99 at said home center a similar one was Y3000.
But Mr. Ultimategaijin, I'm pretty sure that most of the houses in North America are also wood frame, not as rickity as Japanese ones, but wood all the same. I wonder what makes them more fire safe than those in Japan.

[yakitori]

Seems like they use gas here or cooking and heating more than the United States. That could lead to more fires...

[MrUltimateGaijin]

Luckily when I was on Misawa base, my friend was able to buy me a couple for the low low price of $10 each. The same were about Y5000 at the local home center. What a ripoff. Also I picked up a timer for $4.99 at said home center a similar one was Y3000.
But Mr. Ultimategaijin, I'm pretty sure that most of the houses in North America are also wood frame, not as rickity as Japanese ones, but wood all the same. I wonder what makes them more fire safe than those in Japan.

the brick walls are the difference, maybe also the use of plaster on the inside

[Ptyx]

I was about to say that, gas is everywhere and the prefered method for heating, besides the air conditionner, is the gas stove.
I don't know how those works internally (i come from a country with central heating, thank god) but i know that every single japanese friend that use them wouldn't be caught dead sleeping in the same room as a switched on gas stove. Thoses things seem to be really accident prone and it is considered wise to shut them off whenever you can't watch over them.

[Blah Pete]

Probably doesn't help that most folks houses are piled full of junk. The lack of smoke detectors here is a real problem.
One difference between a house fire in the US or Canada and Japan is in Japan the whole house usually burns down.

[Mike Oxlong]

With central heating, the furnace is usually in a concrete basement, well away from foot traffic and clutter. The rest of the basement could be full of junk, but the area immediately around the hot water heater and furnace is usually clear. No chance of being bumped and knocked over like the kerosene stoves and fan heaters in Japan. The stoves here are also a hot spot that can light up curtains or piles of newspapers, sofas and the like. Don't generally have that problem with a heat vent or radiator in an American home.

[Greji]

Don't every look at the electrical wiring in your house if you ever want a good night's sleep again.

Electrical fires and gas heater explosions lead the league!

Smoking in the futon scores big with the drunks!

[dimwit]

Smoking in bed and elswewhere has to be the number one cause of house fires in Japan.

[canman]

I was thinking that smoking would be a big reason, but Greji, you made a good point about the electrical wiring. I think it is really light and then if you look at most houses they have tons of "electrical octopuses" at every outlet which is just a fire waiting to happen.

[kurohinge1]

I was thinking that smoking would be a big reason, but Greji, you made a good point about the electrical wiring. I think it is really light and then if you look at most houses they have tons of "electrical octopuses" at every outlet which is just a fire waiting to happen.

I read somewhere that there's also a big problem in Japanese cities with rats/mice chewing on, and exposing, the wiring behind the walls, etc. leading to fires.

Otherwise, smokers, more use of flame for cooking and more flammable buildings would seem to be factors.

[Visitor K]

one weekend when i lived in outer shinjuku there were three houses that got broken into and set on fire by some teenage kids. im sure its not common, but the people in my neighborhood made it seem like it was for quite some time..