2009 News Releases
S.C. Fire Deaths Increase in Alarming Trend
South Carolina has almost tripled the number of fire deaths in January 2009 over the same month last year.
Fifteen have died during the first month of 2009 compared to six deaths in that time period last year. And in South Carolina last year, 74 died, up 14 from the previous year. The leading causes of fire deaths last year were cooking related and electrical.
The increase follows a national trend, which has prompted South Carolina State Fire Marshal John Reich to join the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and other national fire service groups to issue an alert declaring a national fire emergency.
"Since Thanksgiving 2008, more than 158 fatal fires have occurred in the United States, resulting in over 200 fire fatalities," reports the NASFM. In South Carolina, 16 people lost their lives due to fires in November and December, 2008. Another 15 people have died since January 1, 2009, many of these victims in multi-fatality incidents.
Reich emphasizes that working smoke alarms should be a priority at any time of year.
"This is a critical time to test your alarms to make sure they are working," Reich said. "Having working smoke alarms and a prepared and practiced emergency escape plan may help you survive a home fire. Many informed consumers in the United States are taking fire safety seriously and are installing home fire sprinkler systems. The combination of fire sprinklers and smoke alarms increase your chances of surviving a fire to 82%. Fire sprinkler systems are designed to put the fire out before it can become a threat and is a relatively inexpensive way to provide an even greater safety environment for your family."
Not only do residential fire sprinkler systems help protect citizens, they also help protect the lives of firefighters by containing the fire, Reich said. The majority of firefighter injuries and deaths happen while fighting residential fires.
For more information, visit the South Carolina State Fire Marshal's Web site at: www.llr.state.sc.us/fmarshal/SCFIRS/index.asp?file=fatalities.htm