'Every second counts during a real fire'

A recent upsurge in house fires has state officials urging residents to check their smoke detectors and develop a household escape plan.

Last year, eight people died in fires in Utah. Six of those deaths were inside residential buildings, one was in a vehicle and another was due to a wildland fire in central Utah.

In 2005, fires claimed 23 lives in Utah, and 19 of those deaths were the result of house fires.

In many of those cases, especially in house fires, officials say working smoke detectors would have made a difference.

"Preventing a fire is best, but when there is a fire in your home, knowing there is a fire and knowing what to do can save your life," said state Fire Marshal Ron Morris. "Have working smoke detectors. Have a plan and practice your plan."

Homeowners are encouraged to have at least one detector on each level of their home, preferably closest to any bedrooms. In addition to smoke detectors, a carbon monoxide detector should be installed.

Special arrangements should be made to help children and older people escape a fire, as well as people with hearing impairments.

Morris said plans to escape should be practiced "frequently and at various times until the escape plans become second nature."

During practice, people have found that they often sleep through smoke alarms, making it necessary to have someone alert them, if possible, in case of a real fire.

"Every second counts during a real fire," he said.

Water sprinklers are also helpful in homes and are a must in commercial buildings.

Early Tuesday, a fire in a West Valley City night club was extinguished by a water sprinkler in the building. As a result, no one was injured and damage was kept to a minimum.

"This is a major factor that keeps our commercial-occupancy, fire-fatality rate so low," said Monica Colby, public education specialist for the State Fire Marshal's Office.

She said sprinklers can be installed easily in any home, especially those under construction.

"There is no known residential fire fatality in the nation with a home protected by residential fire sprinklers," she said.

The recent push to ensure homes have the proper fire equipment comes after 14 people, including 10 children, died in two separate fires across the nation in two days last week. Officials believe many, if not all, of those deaths could have been prevented.

For more information, contact your local fire department or visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com