Bureau of Fire Services Steps Up Fire Prevention Campaign

LANSING, MI - Saturday, October 04, 2008 - The Bureau of Fire Services in Lansing is aggressively campaigning to educate the public on fire safety. With the rising cost of heating fuel, many people fear that this winter could set an all time record for residential fires. The Services proactive approach is an attempt to prevent your and your home from a costly and potentially deadly disaster.

Tony Sanfilippo, Deputy State Fire Marshal, said "A potholder too close to a lit burner or a space heater left on overnight could be all it takes to start a home fire. In fact, cooking and heating are among the leading causes of home fires in the United States, according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

That's why the Bureau of Fire Services is teaming up with NFPA from October 5-11 to urge Michigan residents to "Prevent Home Fires" during Fire Prevention Week. This year's campaign focuses on preventing all the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating and electrical equipment, and smoking materials. Additionally, fire safety educators across the state will be teaching local residents how to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs.

According the latest research from NFPA, more than 2,500 people died in home fires in the United States in 2006, and 12,500 were injured. Fire departments responded to 396,000 home fires, which accounted for 80 percent of civilian deaths and 76 percent of injuries that year. "While the number of home fires is daunting, the good news is that many are easily preventable when residents take simple steps to increase their safety from fire," said Tony Sanfilippo, Deputy State Fire Marshal. "Whether it's smoking outside the home, keeping space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, or staying in the kitchen when you are using the stovetop, there are easy things you can do to keep your home and family safe from fire."

Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. For 85 years fire departments have observed Fire Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

For more information on "It's Fire Prevention Week – Prevent Home Fires!" visit www.firepreventionweek.org