Dallas Deaths Down
Due to increased public awareness of residential fire hazards, Dallas fire fatality statistics have dropped in recent months.
A two-month period ending Nov. 5 marked the first instance since 1968 of two consecutive months without a fire fatality.
In the year ending Sept. 30, 24 fire deaths were the lowest number of fatalities in 12 years. Four months during the fiscal year were free of fire deaths. Contributing to the absence of fire deaths in September and October 1980 was citizen involvement in rescuing persons endangered by fire.
Improper use of heating devices and electrical holiday decorations are common fire hazards in winter months. Most fires occur in dwellings, and careless smoking was again, as it has been in the last 10 years, the most frequent cause of fire death.