Sunday, January 24, 2010

Inaugural Post; Tragic Beginnings

The first post of the FTT Editor's Blog comes in the midst of the deadliest month (in terms of fire fatalities) that we've had in this state in nearly a year and a half. Still a week remains in January of 2010, and we're at 13 media-reported fire deaths. One more, and it will be the highest montly total since October of '06.

Just a few weeks ago, we were celebrating the fact that the 2009 media-reported fire death totals were the lowest in the 5 years that FTT has been tracking such information... How quickly things can change. We didn't have a single month in 2009 where the reported fire death total reached double-digits.

Stories on this AM's local news still focus on the Nashville duplex fire that claimed 5 lives yesterday morning. A 3-year-old remains in critical condition. Reports are that a 7th victim, the 7-year-old who was lowered from a window by her father, is set to be released from the hospital soon. These reports also state that there were "no working smoke alarms" in the structure. Does this mean that there were no smoke alarms present, or that they were installed, just not functional?

There is no doubt that smoke alarms save lives... countless lives. BUT, in order to do so, they MUST be working. Action is required on the part of the occupant to ensure that they are tested and batteries are replaced. How well does that work? In this instance, not so well...

ALSO... News out of Martin, TN, of a mobile home fire that claimed the lives of an adult male and a "male infant". Not much more than that reported... A tragic situation for that family, I'm sure. We'll try to find out more information on this story and share.

2 days, 7 deaths (3 kids, 4 adults), 1 child still critical. What are you doing to make sure this does not happen in your community?

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