Fire Safety

I’m no firefighter, but I was raised by the best to ever wear the helmet in what we call a “fire family”. I have a five-generation-long, deep-rooted family history in the city of Galveston, Fire Dept. I love my fire family and my sweet firefighter husband whom I married 32 years ago. To say the least, my entire life is well to the inside of a strong red circle. Fire safety is close to my heart on different levels. Fire safety protects you, it protects your property, your life, and the lives of your loved ones. Fire safety prevents household fires and ultimately saves money because it reduces insurance liability and claims. Also, fire safety that prevents fires protects firefighters and keeps them out of harm’s way. 

The Facts ·      

In 2022, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.5 million fires in the United States. These fires caused 3,790 civilian fire deaths and 13,250 reported civilian fire injuries. The property damage caused by these fires was estimated at $18 billion. On average, a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the US every 21 seconds in 2022. A home structure fire was reported every 88 seconds, a home fire death occurred every three hours and fourteen minutes, and a home fire injury occurred every 53 minutes. More than one-third of the fires (522,500 — or 35 percent) occurred in or on structures. Most of the fire losses were caused by these fires, including 2,790 of the civilian fire deaths (77 percent); 11,720 of the civilian fire injuries (88 percent); and $15 billion of the direct property damage (83 percent). These numbers provided by the National Fire Protection Association in the 2023 Fire Loss in The United States Report are sobering. Steps You Can Take:

Prevention       

• Install working smoke detectors – local stores sell these for prices ranging from $10-$100 and if you are a senior and cannot obtain and install a smoke detector, please call the Galveston Fire Marshal’s office at 409-797-3870. The office will arrange to assist you with the installation of a smoke detector in your home at no cost to you. As the first line of defense against fire, smoke detectors can help alert you to fires and provide you with precious time to evacuate the premises.
• Check your wiring – faulty household wiring is one of the leading causes of household fires. If you are unsure of the condition of your home’s wiring or are experiencing electrical issues, even if they seem small, it may be time to have it inspected by a licensed electrician. One simple step you can take is not to overload the plugs and circuits in your home, plugging too much into each outlet. Also, avoid running cords under rugs and carpets in your home, and when possible, unplug your small appliances when you’re not using them.  
• Clean your dryer lint tray – lint in a dryer is extremely flammable and the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is not electrical but rather a failure to clean the dryer lint properly. You should clean the lint tray before and after each use and clear away any dryer lint from inside and around the dryer.  Make sure your dryer vent has proper airflow and is installed by a professional. You may need to clean and clear your vent pipe yearly or more. Be sure your vent flap to the exterior of your home is functioning and clear of lint, and that it’s opening when the dryer is in use, and keep all flammables away from the dryer unit.  
• Be aware of flammable items in your home - keep soft goods such as curtains, blankets, pillows, and rugs away from open flames and sources of heat. Don’t forget to watch out for combustibles as well. Items such as paint, cleaners, oils, etc. should never be stored near appliances that generate heat or open flames in the home.
• Invest in a fire extinguisher – a simple home fire extinguisher stored in high-risk areas such as the kitchen, laundry room, or garage can buy you seconds when seconds count the most. Fire doubles in size every 30 seconds and owning one could save your own life or the life of a loved one.
• For more information about fire safety tips and programs contact the GFD Fire Marshal’s Office at 409-797-3870.