06/06/2026
It has been very busy in the world of home oxygen fires so I wanted to share some updates:
BPR is actively working with UL to test the thermal fuse. The UL work on the thermal fuse has started with 300 bi-directional thermal fuses currently undergoing testing. It is hoped by as early as July and as late as Sept we could see word back from UL. This UL testing should open the doors for a broader communication about thermal fuse engineered technology in the US.
The ICC has adopted code language in section 6306.5 and there is code language under consideration for NFPA 1. This would primarily focus on residential occupancies covered by the code mostly R2. As with the Gabrial House disaster killing 10 people and injuring 33 others, HOT fires in multifamily buildings appear to be rising in number.
The IAFC Home Oxygen Therapy Dashboard https://iafc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/09491ddb666d4051bad1a483ea9e89ef has recorded 824 fires with 448 civilian deaths since we started tracking those fires. I spoke with Baylie Scott who oversees the NERIS new fire reporting system. NERIS appears to be doing an incredible job of accurately tracking fire department reporting of HOT fires. As of last week since March 1, 2026, there have been 56 HOT fires and 4 fatal fires. I am excited to see her data as we get all 100% of the fire service reporting. So far about 18000 fire department enter 110,000 runs a day and it shows the fire service is making about 1,000,000 runs fire and ems every 9-10 days.
Hopeful for Dr. Sheckter to get approved for his NIH grant request. He proposes to study the VA HOT fires post thermal fuse adoption in 2018 and the VA wide mandate in 2020.
BPR has introduced a nasal cannula that does not allow fire ignition at the point of oxygen delivery. The pyroguard nasal cannula will be something we are going to really promote in the fire service. It takes away one side of the fire triangle but removing the risk of the nasal cannula igniting and contributing to the fire growth. I have my hands on 2 of them and the product will soon be sold in the U.S. I don’t want to steal BPR’s thunder on this but I wanted to make sure you knew along with the thermal fuse, there are advances in oxygen safety happening at BPR.
I have a meeting at the National Fire Academy with the US Fire Administration top leadership and research team June 18th while I am attending the academy for completion of my EFO. They have growing concerns over the higher trend line of elderly fire fatalities. I have fire officials in some states reporting 40% of their fire fatalities are related to smoking and oxygen. Again, I am sure Baylie’s work at NERIS will paint a picture many of us suspect as an emerging fire trend. It is my opinion taking in all sources of information that HOT fires are being grossly underreported as carless smoking.
Does anyone have connections in the FDA? I received my very first MEDWATCH report listing a fire injury from smoking and oxygen use. Apparently in the DME and distribution world, the FDA sends reports to anyone who potentially provided equipment that later was involved in a fire. It is not a “at fault” notice but more awareness. Of an incident that occurred. I suspect they are provider completed which means they may not be mandatory but it was very accurate as to what happened. I would like to know more about this report.
Two firefighters were injured in the Schenectady, NY fire. Keep in mind, the google spread sheets are not an official fire report and we are documenting fires when an oxygen tank is involved but the cause is not necessarily smoking and oxygen. This fire started in a bedroom near oxygen with a trapped person. It is reported the tank blew up in the room where the firefighters were at causing injuries that required transport to the hospital but they were later released.
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