A combination of public education, increased smoke detector usage and stricter building codes have resulted in fewer fires in Ottawa and across the country.
Fewer fires mean fewer lives senselessly lost to fire.
The total number of fires in the U.S. has dropped by almost half, with fires accounting for only one-sixth of all fire calls. The number of fire-related deaths has been halved too. Several years have passed since Ottawa experienced a fire fatality. No doubt, fire prevention education, elimination of trash fires in the city and lawn refuse burning by permit only have reduced the number of fires locally. A more than 90 percent compliance rate of homes mandate with smoke detectors has made a significant impact on the number of lives not lost to fire.