Halloween night safety: dark soon after 6 p.m. on the South Coast, the hour federal data show fires peak

SOUTH COAST Trick-or-treaters who head out after 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, will be walking in the dark on the South Coast. The sun sets at 5:40 p.m. in both New Bedford and Fall River that day, and civil twilight ends at 6:08 p.m. in New Bedford and 6:09 p.m. in Fall River, according to U.S. Naval Observatory tables.

That is also when Halloween fires hit their peak. Fires reported around Halloween peaked from 6 to 7 p.m., the U.S. Fire Administration found in a data snapshot covering 2017 through 2019.

What the fire data show

In each of those years, fire departments across the country responded to an estimated average of 9,200 fires over the three days around Halloween, Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, the agency said. Those fires caused an estimated annual average of 25 deaths, 100 injuries and $117 million in property loss.

Outside fires made up the largest share, at 34%, with residential fires close behind at 33%. Residential fires did the most harm, with 45% of the deaths, 83% of the injuries and 42% of the dollar loss. Cooking was the leading cause of residential fires over the holiday, followed by heating, other careless acts and electrical failures, according to the snapshot.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has also estimated that candles were tied to an annual average of 5,600 fires from 2017 through 2019, and electrical cords and plugs to 1,600.

Where people get hurt

Hospital emergency departments treated an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries over three years, the commission estimated in an October 2022 release. Pumpkin carving caused 55% of them. Another 25% came from falls while putting up or taking down decorations, tripping on costumes or walking while trick-or-treating, and the remaining 20% included cuts, ingestions and other injuries tied to costumes, pumpkins or decorations, along with allergic reactions and rashes.

Adults made up 54% of the injured and children under 18 made up 46%, the commission said. About 10% of all the injuries were to children 6 or younger.

The commission's advice

• Carving Leave the knife work to adults. Children can scoop out the inside with a spoon or trace the design with a marker. Light the finished jack-o'-lantern with battery lights or glow sticks; if you use a real candle, keep it away from curtains and decorations and never leave it burning unattended.
• Costumes Pick one that fits, since long or baggy costumes lead to trips and falls, and keep loose, flowing fabric away from open flames. Polyester or nylon is a safer choice than sheer cotton or rayon, though the commission says any fabric can burn if it touches a flame. Eye and nose holes in a mask should allow full vision and easy breathing, and makeup may be safer than a mask.
• Being seen Trim costumes and coats with reflective tape so children are easier to see in low light. A brightly colored costume and a flashlight or glow stick also help light the way.
• At home Clear lawns, steps and porches of anything a child could trip over before trick-or-treaters arrive. Use only lights tested by a recognized testing laboratory, check every set for cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.

The week ahead

The National Weather Service forecast for New Bedford, updated at 2:36 p.m. Saturday, calls for patchy frost before 8 a.m. Sunday and sunny skies every day through Friday, Oct. 30, with highs from 53 to 67. Friday night is forecast to be mostly clear with a low around 48.

Clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, a few hours after trick-or-treating ends, and Fall River's sunset that day moves to 4:39 p.m., according to the Naval Observatory. South Coast 360 has the details in Clocks fall back Sunday, Nov. 1, as a bill to end the switch waits in the Senate.

Halloween week events across the region, from zoo and library trick-or-treating to a Halloween night haunt, are in our Halloween week guide.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.