Property Owners, Renters Can Help Keep Our Communities Safe From Residential Building Fires
Originally published in The Nebraska Examiner on October 9, 2024.
Oct. 6-12 is Fire Prevention Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness about fire safety, fire prevention and how to respond effectively if a fire occurs.
During this week, it’s important to recognize that smoking is a leading cause of residential building fires.
In 2023, Nebraska recorded 129 smoking-related fires, 28% of which were in multi-family dwellings, according to Tobacco Free Nebraska. These fires resulted in two civilian injuries, three firefighter injuries and a property loss of more than $1.1 million.
Nationally, the statistics are alarming. Between 2013 and 2022, an average of 335 people died each year in residential building fires caused by smoking, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.