NFPA STUDIES SHOWED THAT 85 PERCENT OF THE FIRES IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS WERE INCENDIARY IN NATURE, STARTED BY THE USE OF SMOKING MATERIALS SUCH AS MATCHES, CIGARETTE LIGHTERS, ETC. OF THE FIRES STUDIES, 73 PERCENT INVOLVED THE IGNITION OF CLOTHING, MATTRESSES, AND PADDED WALL COVERINGS. DELAYED DISCOVERY OR LACK OF AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING EQUIPMENT WAS SHOWN TO BE A FACTOR IN ALMOST EVERY INCIDENT STUDIED. THE NFPA CHECKLIST PRESENTS MOST OF THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF FIRE SAFETY, SUCH AS IGNITION AND FUEL CONTROL, WHICH PERTAIN TO SAFE WIRING AND FURNISHINGS, CONTROL OF INMATE SMOKING, EVACUATION IN CASE OF FIRE, DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION OF FIRE BY USING SPRINKLERS, EXTINGUISHERS, AND SMOKE DETECTORS, AND FIRE EMERGENCY DRILLS. QUESTIONS ALSO CONCERN PLANNING AND TRAINING OPERATIONS.