Since January, more than 85 people in our state have died in house fires.
A new study finds Illinois ranks fourth in the nation for states with the most fatal house fires. "We'd had a loss in the family some years ago due to a fire,” Springfield resident Milton Johnson said. “So we normally go through, check our smoke detectors twice a year, as recommended. We follow up and make sure everybody knows how we're getting out of the house, should something happen.”
The study finds the biggest causes of fatal fires are smoking, cooking and electrical malfunctions.
"Smoking materials not fully extinguished. Other times, it's people dissuading cigarettes outside in dry leaves,” Springfield Fire Chief Allen Reyne said. “We've got the fall coming up - that can be a problem."
If you are a smoker, firefighters said to put cigarettes out in water or an ash tray.