ROCKLAND — Two cushions on wooden chairs near an open fireplace smoldered in a Rockland home Friday evening, Dec. 19, sending the smoke alarm into action and a call for help to the Rockland Fire Department just before 8 p.m.

The cause of the fire was attributed to the chairs being too close to the fireplace, without a fire screen to prevent sparks from jumping out.

As smoke filled the home, the chair cushions were thrown onto the front lawn of the Broadway home, and firefighters extinguished the fires in them.

Firefighters advise at least three feet of space between a fireplace, woodstove and heaters and any combustable materials, including rugs.

“If you have a fireplace, use a screen,” said Rockland Fire Department Lt. Rick Johnson. “That’s why we have screens.”

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, national estimates for 2010-2012 show that 82 percent of all fire deaths and 78 percent of all fire injuries occurred in residential buildings. 

An estimated 366,900 residential building fires were reported to fire departments each of those three years and caused an estimated 2,465 deaths, 13,400 injuries and $7 billion in property loss.

Causes were attributed to cooking fires, 47 percent

Residential building fire incidence was higher in the cooler months, peaking in January at 11 percent.

Residential building fires occurred most frequently in the early evening hours, peaking during the dinner hours from 5 to 8 p.m.

The leading reported factor contributing to ignition category was misuse of material or product (38 percent).