New York Designs Door-to-Door Effort To Cut Fire Deaths
An intensive fire prevention and safety education program that will be concentrated in areas where fire fatalities have occurred has been developed by the New York Fire Department. Fire fighters will visit residents, literature will be distributed, and sound trucks, demonstrations and displays will be used in the effort to reduce the city’s average of 273 civilian fire deaths during the last five years.
Commissioner Augustus A. Beekman said that fire prevention and safety education activities will start in a neighborhood within 36 hours of a fatal fire. Neighborhood fire companies will do most of the educational work while remaining in radio contact with dispatchers and will respond to alarms if needed. “We intend to tailor our campaigns to the needs of individual communities,” Beekman said. “The local companies will be able to draw on the resources of the department, including the community relations division, and we will look to the city’s community boards for guidance.
“In cases where the need arises, bilingual education teams will be made available, as well as sound trucks and fire prevention displays. This department will spare no effort, within our resources, to ensure that fire safety is the business of every resident of this city.
“Some deaths could have been prevented if smoke detectors, which are inexpensive and readily available, had been installed,” the commissioner continued. “Other deaths occurred because there was a delay in notifying the fire departrent or because residents reentered a burning building to rescue a pet or valuables.
Civilian Fire Deaths 1978
Source: New York Fire Department
Fatal Fire Causes New York City 1978
(1) Frequently associated uiith consumption of alcoholic beverages
(2) Frequently associated with unattended children
Source: New York Fire Department
“I urge homeowners to install smoke detectors,” the commissioner declared.
Beekman stated that the educational teams will gather data on the causes of fires and fatalities, any unusual incidents and whether smoke detectors or similar devices could have prevented these deaths.
According to the fire department, fire deaths have averaged about 273 a year in the last five years. The yearly totals are as follows: 273 in 1974, 245 in 1975, 289 in 1976, 290 in 1977 and 272 in 1978. There have been 10 fire deaths so far this year.
Mayor Edward I. Koch, who joined the fire commissioner in announcing the program, said, “We are sending fire fighters into the neighborhoods of this city to instill in residents the awareness that fire prevention and safety can avert these tragic deaths. . . Fire deaths are doubly tragic since they not only claim lives, but also affect primarily the very young and the vey old. All city residents, and especially parents and those who care for the elderly, must have an understanding of fire prevention techniques and fire safety principles.
“Fire officials say that the causes of these fires constantly reoccur—careless smoking, frequently associated with alcoholic beverage consumption, unattended children and children playing with matches,” the mayor added.
