Washington, D.C. – As part of National Fire Prevention Week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has joined with the Fire Safety Council (FSC) membership to announce plans to address the threat of fires in residential homes throughout the nation. The joint effort, which will focus initial efforts on the 5 million American homes without smoke alarms, will include a two-year pilot phase with focus on public fire safety education and awareness, as well as new research on fire safety technology for the home.
Though all of the partners have had smoke alarm installation programs, a joint effort combining knowledge and experiences from these programs has never before been attempted. Additionally, FEMA and the FSC are launching a Web site www.firesafety.gov to provide up-to-date information about program activities, prevention tips and a special interactive page for children to learn about fire safety.
“This past weekend, I joined Secretary Tom Ridge and US Fire Administrator Dave Paulison in a memorial service for the firefighters who lost their lives in 2002, risking personal harm to save the lives and property of their fellow citizens. That’s why it’s so critical that individuals and families heed the advice given during National Fire Prevention Week, and take steps to safeguard themselves against the deadly threat of fire,” said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Secretary Ridge and President Bush are committed to making this nation safe from fire and other hazards.”
Between 1977 and 2002, home fire deaths decreased two to three percent in the U.S. each year. Still, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that an estimated 2,670 people died in residential fires in 2002.
“Each year in this country, thousands of people are killed in home fires,” said Paulison, “The sad fact is that these deaths are preventable. Bringing these experts together to tackle this challenge will unite forces to make our homes safer, and further protect the lives of America’s firefighters.”
“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has made significant progress in reducing fire-related deaths during the past 30 years,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “We are continuing our efforts to further reduce fire deaths by focusing on the consumer products most often involved in these deaths – electrical products, upholstered furniture, mattresses, and heating equipment.”
The 16 FSC partners include government agencies and non-governmental organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Fire Administration, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission were the founding FSC partners and continue to serve as lead organizations for the partnership.