Did You Know?

RESIDENTIAL FIRE STATISTICS

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and more than 20,000 are injured. Many of them might be alive today if they had only had the information they needed to avoid a disaster. The following life-saving tips could make a big difference to your audience. By incorporating them in your story now, while the moment is still fresh, you could help save a life.

Did you know?

Eighty-two percent of all fire deaths occur in the home.
Careless smoking is the second leading cause of fire deaths.
Deaths due to fires caused by careless smoking are particularly preventable.
Having a working smoke alarm reduces one's chance of dying in a fire by nearly a half.

Following these simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates dramatically. Please share them with your readers because knowledge is the best fire protection.

Careless Smoking Life-Saving Tips

Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them at least once a year. Consider installing a 10-year lithium battery-powered smoke alarm, which is sealed so it cannot be tampered with or opened.
Never smoke in bed. Replace mattresses made prior to the 1973 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard.
Don't put ashtrays on the arms of sofas or chairs.
Use deep ashtrays and soak ashes in water before disposal.
Don't leave cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended. Put out all smoking materials before you walk away.
If you begin to feel drowsy while watching television or reading, extinguish your cigarette or cigar.
Close a matchbook before striking and hold it away from your body. Set your cigarette lighter on "low" flame.
If smokers have visited, be sure to check the floor and around chair cushions for ashes that may have been dropped accidentally.

Nationwide Response Breakdown (2009)

The latest current statistics

NUMBER OF RESPONSES NATIONWIDE:

Fires 1,348,500

Medical Aid 17,104,000

False Alarms 2,177,000

Mutual Aid/Assistance 1,296,000

Hazmat 397,000

Other Hazardous (Arcing wires, bomb removal, etc.) 625,500

All Other (Smoke scares, lock-outs, etc.) 3,586,500

TOTAL 26,534,500

Property Use Fires Deaths Injuries Loss In Millions

All Structures 480,500 2,695 14,740 $10,842

Residential Structures 377,000 2,590 13,050 $ 7,796

Nonresidential Structures 103,500 105 1,690 $ 3,046

Vehicles 219,000 280 1,610 $ 1,361

Outdoor and Other Fires 649,000 35 700

On-Duty Firefighter 2010 Fatalities: 85

Classification:

55 Volunteer 64.7%

28 Career 32.9%

1 Wildland Full-Time 1.17%

1 Paid-on-Call 1.17%

Number of Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents: 4

Type of Duty:

20 On-Scene Fire 23.5%

19 Other On-Duty 22.3%

16 Responding 18.8%

16 After 18.8%

7 Training 8.23%

4 On-Scene Non-Fire 4.70%

1 Returning 1.17%

1 Other 1.17%

1 Unknown 1.17%

West Virginia ranks 4^th highest in the nation in civilian fire deaths