Electric cooktop fire incidents in Finland

Abstract

Cooking related fires contribute to one-fourth of residential building fires in Finland. However, their prevalence is often underestimated in statistics due to underreporting when individuals manage situations without fire service assistance. Despite their significance, cooktop fires remain inadequately studied, impeding our understanding of residential fire safety and the advancement of effective prevention measures. This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of electric cooktop safety in Finland. It explores factors undermining safety, analyses materials contributing to hazards, assesses financial damages, and scrutinizes typical cooktop fire scenarios and prevention methods. Utilizing data from statistics (2016–2022), Safety Investigation Authority reports (1998–2022), media reviews (1.7.2020–30.6.2023), and insurance data (2017–2020), supplemented by two survey studies, this research identifies consistent causative factors across multiple data sources. Common factors include excessive items left on cooktops, unattended cooking, and unintentional activation of cooktops. Approximately three-quarters of cooktop fires go unreported to fire services, suggesting a significantly higher prevalence than recorded in statistics. Moreover, minimal use of stove safety devices exacerbates the issue. According to insurance company data, the costs caused by cooktop fires are significantly higher than those reported in official statistics. Implementing existing technology is crucial for reducing the frequency and consequences of these fires.