10/03/2018
Saving Lives the Prime Goal of National Fire Prevention Week
“Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.”
BOISE, ID – Reducing the risk of fire and being prepared in the event of one is the emphasis of National Fire Prevention Week, October 7 through October 13. The Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office joins fire departments nationwide to stress the importance of this year’s theme: “look for places fires can start; listen for the sound of a smoke alarm; and learn two ways out of each room.” These essential calls-to-action can help protect your home and loved ones.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), 80 percent of fire-related deaths occur in homes. Cooking is considered the leading cause of home fires, and NFPA statistics indicate that people are 10 percent more likely to die in a home fire today than they were in 1980. More alarming, 3 of 5 home fire deaths happen in a dwelling with no smoke alarms.
“Working smoke alarms can reduce the risk of dying in a home fire in half,” said State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl. “These highly effective devices provide the best defense from becoming a statistic and give people added time to safely escape a burning building.”
Missing or dead batteries, or devices that have been disconnected are the leading cause of smoke alarms that fail. In 2018, the Idaho State Fire Marshal investigated five fires that resulted in six fatalities. In all five cases, no working smoke alarm present was present.
Marshal Sandahl says fire safety should never be taken for granted, and that “it’s never too late to plan ahead, devise an escape plan and make a commitment to fire safety in your home.”
National Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, a blaze that killed more than 250 people, destroyed over 17,000 structures and left at least 100,000 homeless.
The Idaho Department of Insurance has been regulating the business of insurance in Idaho since 1901. The mission of the Department is to serve and protect Idahoans by equitably, effectively and efficiently administering the Idaho Insurance Code and the International Fire Code. For more information, visit