On the recordJuly 29, 1998
In 1994 the Consumer Product Safety Commission decided to grant part of a petition by State fire marshals, State fire marshals who have been asking the CPSC to develop a safety standard for upholstered furniture to address the problems of fires started from small open flames such as lighters, matches and candles. Every year 200 people are killed and 600 injured unnecessarily by fires which start on upholstered couches and chairs. Most of the fires start when children play with lighters and matches, and every year 40 children under age 5 die in fires started by burning upholstered furniture. These fires, Mr. Chairman, cost an estimated $1 billion and are completely avoidable. These fires could be avoided by using fire-retardant chemicals to reduce the flammability of upholstered furniture.
Source
govinfo.gov
