The following is further information that may be helpful to members of the press in covering Fire Prevention Week. It contains both facts on fire in general, and more detailed information on Home Fire Escape Planning. Thank you for your partnership in supporting our fire prevention endeavors. More people die from fire in their homes than any other location. Fire and burns are among the leading causes of death in children five and under, and rank high in causes of accidental death in the general population.
Thousands die and tens of thousands are injured each year nationally due to fire.
A burn is often held to be the most painful trauma that a person can survive. Taking a few basic precautions can prevent many fires. Most deaths from fire can be prevented by early detection, working smoke detectors, and a well-practiced home escape plan. Use a simple planning grid to draw a floor plan of your home. Your second way out might be used to escape to a roof, balcony, porch, or another location to signal for the fire department if you are unable to escape.