More than 50 people have died in house fires so far this year.
That’s nearly a dozen more than the year before and part of an upward trend of home fire deaths nationwide.
Seeing the statistics of all the people that have died this year after their homes caught fire, one word comes top of mind for Merrill Fire Chief Josh Klug: disappointment.
“We feel, in the fire service, that we’ve been proactive for so many years in education and prevention that to have high numbers like that is kind of disappointing. And it’s maybe a reflection or a potential chance to re-evaluate the effectiveness of our programs,” said Klug.
Klug says smoke detectors are going to be your first line of defense against a fire.
There should be at minimum one on every level of your home. It’s good to place them outside bedroom doors and inside each bedroom if you’re able.