Statistics provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reveal that residents are more likely to die in a reported home fire today than in 1980.
This startling fact is the result of several factors, including the composition of modern materials and the way homes are built, and the NFPA is hoping its message for Fire Prevention Week Oct. 7-13 will help homeowners become more aware of the dangers they potentially face.
“Open floor plans and a prevalence of modern synthetic furnishings make homes burn faster and the fires produce deadly smoke and gases within moments,” said NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy Lorraine Carli, who adds that residents may have as little as two to three minutes to escape a home fire today compared to eight to ten minutes years ago.
The theme of this year's Fire Prevention Week is "Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere,” which places an emphasis on three critical messages:
- Look for places fire can start
- Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm
- Learn two ways out of each room
“This year’s Fire Prevention Week messages point to the essentials of home fire safety,” said Carli. “Looking for potential fire hazards in the home, making sure your smoke alarms are working properly, and having a home escape plan that everyone has practiced – these actions can dramatically reduce the loss from home fires.”
The NFPA sees challenges in motivating the public to take these important steps because people rarely think they could have a fire, despite the fact they are at greatest risk while at home.
“Because we have reduced the overall number of fires, there is a general complacency and a lack of action around home fire preparedness and planning,” said Carli. “Our goal for Fire Prevention Week is to make sure people recognize that fire remains a very real risk, and that everyone needs to take action to protect themselves and their families.”
Click here for more information on Fire Prevention Week.
