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Fire Marshal has tips to stay safe in 2016

State Fire Marshal’s information

State Fire Marshal Fire Prevention Chief Frank Conway announced Tuesday that 117 people lost their lives in fires this year, slightly up from 115 in 2014.  Chief Conway also announced plans to continue the Safe & Sound public awareness campaign through the remaining winter months as a way to combat the growing number of fire fatalities.

“We are making progress with the “Safe & Sound” campaign. Since it kicked off in October, fire deaths decreased by 33 percent,” Conway said. “However, even one fire death is too many, so we will continue our fire prevention push into 2016.”

State Fire Marshal logo 12-2015As we ring in the New Year, we will also be welcoming colder temperatures. In fact, January is typically one of the worst months for fires, making this fire safety push even more imperative.

“All Ohioans can help protect themselves from a fire,” Conway continued. “Making sure there are no fire risks in your home and having working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan can help you and your family stay safe. I encourage everyone to make it a New Year’s resolution to be fire safe in 2016.”

Some ways Ohio residents can stay safe as the winter continues:

  • Dispose of real Christmas trees when they become dry.
  • Check holiday lights as you take them down. Dispose of any frayed or non-working stands.
  • Plug space heaters directly into the wall.
  • Do not overload electrical outlets or extension cords.
  • Space heaters need space. Keep flammable objects at least three feet from any heat source.
  • Turn heaters off when you leave a room.
  • Do not use the kitchen oven range to heat your home.
  • Install a smoke alarm on each level of the home, inside and outside of each bedroom.
  • Have a fire escape plan with two ways out.

“Safe & Sound” was kicked off in early October with a goal to reverse the trend of fire deaths during the winter months. Home heating fires are most likely to happen during this time of the year. Of all fires with a determined cause, heating was the leading cause of fatal fires in 2015.

The Department of Commerce and State Fire Marshal’s office have several partners to help fight this trend. The Ohio Departments of Administrative Services, Aging, Agriculture, Public Safety, Development Services Agency and the Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing are taking an active role in Safe & Sound. The American Red Cross is also assisting with the campaign.

For information about the campaign and more fire safety tips, please visit the State Fire Marshal’s website or twitter page.

POSTED: 12/31/15 at 9:05 am. FILED UNDER: News