LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Michigan fire deaths were up significantly in the first month of 2022.
According to the Bureau of Fire Services, fire-related deaths across Michigan are up 144% compared to the same 34 days in 2021. So far, the Bureau has recorded 18 fires resulting in 22 deaths, all which they say were accidental and preventable.
Last year 67 percent of the 107 fire fatalities in Michigan involved adults over the age of 40. Many of these residential fires occurred in the evening with a majority starting in the living room (33%) or in a bedroom (21%). The top three causes of fatal fires in 2021 were: smoking (39%); heating devices such as space heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces (23%); and cooking (11%).
The Bureau offers the following talking points that may help facilitate a fire safety discussion with parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors.
- Working smoke alarms may reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by as much as 60 percent.
- Last year an average of 1,700 house fires involved portable space heaters, resulting in 80 deaths and 160 injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They’re mostly caused when a space heater—typically an electric one—is placed too close to curtains, bedding, or upholstered furniture that ignited.
- The leading cause of fatal fires in Michigan involves smoking.
Safety officials say Michigan residents are encouraged to follow these simple tips from the National Fire Protection Association to increase their ability to survive or prevent a fire.
- Clear snow away from all exterior doors so you can get out fast in the event of an emergency.
- Make sure your home has multiple smoke alarms, including smoke alarms in each sleeping area and one on each level of your home. Many new smoke alarms can interconnect smoke alarms, so when one sounds all smoke alarms sound.
- Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on each level of your home to alert you of high levels of CO.
- For the deaf or hard of hearing, consider installing smoke alarms that use a flashing light or a bed shaker device to alert them of a fire emergency.
- Make sure every smoke alarm is tested monthly and replace 9-volt batteries in smoke alarms at least once per year.
- Never remove or disable smoke alarms.
- Close your bedroom doors when you sleep to separate yourself from fire, heat, and toxic smoke.
- Make sure kids and the elderly in your home are familiar with the sound of the smoke alarm.
- Have a home fire escape plan that the entire family has practiced that includes having two ways out of every room as well as a meeting place outside the house.
- Make sure that you practice and can open and get out of windows and doors.
- Call 9-1-1 AFTER you exit your home if your smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms are sounding.
- Never use the range or oven as a source to heat for your home. The oven not only is a potential fire hazard, but it can also become a source of high levels of carbon monoxide.
MI Prevention strongly encourages Michigan residents , especially caregivers or anyone who takes care of someone, to watch the following fire safety video to better help those that you care about to increase your chances of surviving a residential fire: https://youtu.be/hj–dLojQag.
If you need smoke alarms and have financial hardship, please contact the Bureau of Fire Services 517-241-8847.
For more fire safety information, please visit the MI Prevention website at: http://MIPrevention.org
