News media reports at least 148 lives lost in home fires already this year

News Media Reports of Civilian Fire Fatalities

EMMITSBURG, Md. – While the winter months always bring a spike in home fires, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) says home fire deaths reported on by the news media are above those reported at this time last year. According to media reports, home fires have already claimed 148 lives this month, 24 more than reported during Jan. 1-16, 2012.

Home fire incidence is collectively highest in the three winter months of January, February and March. Cooking and heating are the leading causes of these fires. The risk of fire also increases with the use of electric space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves.

Older adults (50 deaths) and children (28 deaths) have accounted for more than half of home fire deaths reported by the news media in January. The toll on people and places in recent days includes:

• Jan. 16: A grandmother and three young children died in a house fire in Gloucester County, Virginia.
• Jan. 13: Two women died in a house fire in Scuddy, Kentucky. The cause of the fire is believed to be a skillet left on the stove.
• Jan. 11: A father, mother and their two daughters, ages 13 and 9, were killed in a house fire in Mountain View, Arkansas.
• Jan. 10: A grandmother and three young children died in a house fire in Haltom City, Texas. The fire started near a Christmas tree.
• Jan. 10: A 52-year-old-woman and her 28-year-old daughter died in a house fire in Akron, Ohio. Firefighters report not finding any smoke alarms in the home.
• Jan. 9: A father and his four young children died in a Pike County, Kentucky home fire. Investigators report that an electric heater likely caused the fire.
• Jan. 8: Four young children, all under the age of 7, died in a Conyers, Georgia house fire. There were no working smoke alarms in the house.
• Jan. 7: Four family members spanning three generations died in a fire involving a Christmas tree in Rockford, Illinois.

Most of these tragedies remain under investigation but space heaters, candles and cooking are among the causes suspected in a number of these incidents. Whatever the cause of the fires, one thing is certain: all of these deaths were preventable. USFA encourages everyone to take just 30 seconds to learn the essentials for staying fire-safe this winter by viewing our winter fire safety video.

In addition, smoke alarms are an essential line of defense in the home, giving families valuable time to escape. About two-thirds of fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms, or in homes where residents removed the alarm's batteries or where the batteries are dead. USFRA urges residents to install smoke alarms in their homes and inspect and maintain them on a regular basis.