U.S. Fire Administration Sound the Alarm for Increased Prevention and Education Efforts

U.S. Fire Administration Sounds the Alarm for Increased Prevention and Education Efforts
U.S. Fire Administrator Declares National Fire Emergency After a Series of Multiple Fatality Fires
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) through the Everyone Goes Home® Program is urging departments across the U.S. to adopt and proactively practice Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #14 which states, "Public education must receive more resources and be championed as a critical fire and life safety program." Departments are also urged to advocate for the installation and use of fire sprinklers as highlighted in Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #15.
United States Fire Administrator Chief Greg Cade is declaring a national fire emergency in the wake of several fire incidents in major U.S. cities in which more than a dozen people have been killed. These multiple fatality incidents, which claimed 30 lives, all took place during the height of fire season:

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  December 26, 2008 - Four (4) adults and three (3) children died in a southwest Philadelphia home when gasoline was used to fuel a kerosene heater. The gas turned the device into a bomb, and because interior basement stairs had been removed, the victims were all trapped. There were no working smoke alarms in the home.
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  December 24, 2008 - Four (4) died in a house fire in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. All of the victims were children, and officials cannot be certain whether smoke alarms worked.
  January 1, 2009 - In Washington, DC on New Year's Day six (6) died in a house fire on Jackson Street, Northeast. While the cause was listed as accidental/electrical, officials are not sure smoke alarms worked properly.
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  January 1, 2009 - Three (3) died in a Jefferson County, Missouri house fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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  January 2, 2009 - Two (2) Anderson, Indiana sisters, ages one and two-years old were killed in a home fire. Officials believe the fire began with children, ages 3 and 4, who were playing with a lighter.
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  January 4, 2009 - In Richland, NY eight (8) died in an early morning house fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. It has been reported that there were no smoke alarms in the home.
  

Citing a need for further public education and action regarding smoke alarm and fire safety issues, Chief Cade issued "the most urgent warning possible" that "now is the time to take extraordinary measures" in educating the public about fire dangers.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Everyone Goes Home® Program is calling on Departments from across the country to make prevention and public education a priority in their community. "Continuous efforts must be made by departments nationwide to develop and maintain fire prevention and public education programs. These important life safety efforts prevent both civilian and firefighter fatalities" stated Chief Ron Siarnicki, NFFF Executive Director.
Please join the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Everyone Goes Home® Program, and other fire service organizations to bring national attention to this problem and be part in its solution.