Fairfax, Va., Feb. 16, 2007... The International Association of Fire Chiefs is pleading for help to inform the public of the high number of house fires with fatalities that have occurred since the beginning of February. “We have lost too many people in home fires in the last two weeks,” said President Chief Jim Harmes. “Last night, six were killed in a house fire in Louisiana, two in house fires in Tennessee and one in my own community in Grand Blanc, Michigan," said Harmes. By mid-February media reports reflected that 59 people in the U.S. had perished in house fires in 17 states since the beginning of February. "We have got to do something,” Harmes added.

“These are not just statistics; these are lives -— lives of the people we serve in our communities. Our citizens now have more protection available for their homes than ever before and yet people are losing their lives because they are not taking this protection seriously.”

Fire Chiefs ask that everyone please pass along these life-saving suggestions:

• Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to be sure they are working properly.
• Have an escape plan with a meeting place.
• Once you exit your home, DO NOT return. Too many people lose their lives going back into a burning home.
• Stoves are not made for heating homes.
• Supplemental heating devices should be used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. Keep combustibles clear. Do not leave supplemental heating devices unattended.
• If you are burning wood in your fireplace, make sure your chimneys are properly maintained. That goes for your furnace, as well.
• If candles are necessary, use them in a safe environment in a fireproof container and away from children. Do not leave them unattended.
• And for the long term, consider getting a residential fire sprinkler. According to statistics, the risk of death by fire is reduced by 82 percent when smoke detectors are accompanied with residential fire sprinklers.