CFD raises awareness on fire safety
Most fire-related deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
Published Nov. 10, 2009
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The U.S. Fire Administration and the Columbia Fire Department are participating in the Install, Inspect, Protect campaign, an effort to reduce fire deaths and injuries across the nation. The campaign encourages the installation of smoke alarms and sprinklers in residence halls and asks them to be inspected and maintained on a regular basis.
Fire companies from the Columbia Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 7:16 a.m. Sunday at 1110 West Worley St.
Responding fire crews arrived at the home of Arthur and Deanna Trass to find light smoke coming from the eaves of the home, a CFD news release stated. Its arrival only took three minutes. Firefighters were able to put the fire out in less than five minutes.
According to the news release, fire damage was contained to a utility closet, where the fire was later determined to have started, and one bedroom. Some smoke damage occurred throughout the home. Fire investigators determined the fire started when combustible materials were unknowingly placed to close to the water heater.
The residents were home at the time of the fire but were alerted when the fire detectors sounded, the news release stated. The Trass couple and their dog were able to safely exit the home and were outside awaiting the arrival of the firefighters.
Damage is estimated at less then $10,000, the news release stated. The homeowners were insured.
On average, 3,000 people die in home fires each year in the U.S., most of which are in homes without working smoke alarms, a Columbia fire department news release stated.
The United States Fire Administration, a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is sponsoring a nationwide Install, Inspect, Protect campaign designed to raise awareness about how working, properly installed smoke alarms can lower a person's chances of dying in a fire, the news release stated.
"The United States Fire Administration recognizes that we have a fairly serious fire problem in the U.S.," Fire Marshal Steven Sapp said. "First this program hopes to prevent fires, and secondly if a fire does occur, help people get early warning and fire suppression."
According the news release, the United States Fire Administration's campaign is aimed at encouraging Americans to practice fire safety by installing and maintaining smoke alarms and residential fire sprinklers, practicing fire escape plans and performing a home safety walkthrough to remove fire hazards from the home.
"Half of the 90 percent of residential buildings with smoke alarms installed are not working," Sapp said. "The most common cause is missing or dead batteries."
The campaign is being promoted through free Campaign Toolkit disc, educational material, public service announcements, children's materials, community organization-sponsored events and a consumer-friendly Web site campaign, the news release stated.
"One person killed in a home fire is just too many," Fire Chief William Markgraf said in a news release. "Together we can educate our communities and help save lives."
When both smoke alarms and fire sprinklers are present in a home, the risk of dying in a fire is reduced by 82 percent, when compared to a residence without either, the news release stated.
"As of late the United States Fire Administration has championed the cause or made a call of action to have people install smoke alarms and test them," Sapp said. "By doing so you are saving the loved ones that live with you."