Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens is urging Georgians to be fire resilient following multiple fatal house fires involving our older adult residents over the last several days.
“We had four older adults die in separate house fires in Georgia since May 28, and all of the victims were over age of 69,” Commissioner Hudgens said. “We are asking families, friends and neighbors to keep an eye on older residents in their community, especially regarding fire safety.”
The four deaths, included, an 87-year-old woman in DeKalb County and two sisters ages 69 and 73 in Cobb County on May 31. In Gwinnett County, a 71-year-old man died on May 25. So far, fire has claimed the lives of 67 Georgians in 2016.
Hudgens said older adults make up a disproportionate number of the state’s fire victims for a variety of reasons. “They may lack the mobility to escape a fire. Also, many older people are security-conscious, and install burglar bars around windows and doors. While this protection decreases the likelihood of a break-in, it also makes it more difficult to exit the home, and makes it harder for firefighters to get inside to battle a fire.”
The Commissioner said smoke alarms are especially essential for older adults. “Since they may need more time to escape, an early fire warning is invaluable. Nine out of 10 fire victims are already dead before the fire department is even called, mainly from smoke and toxic gases. That’s why Georgia law requires a smoke alarms in every home.”
Once installed, smoke alarms need regular battery replacement. Older adults may have a hard time reaching an alarm that is properly mounted (high on a wall or on the ceiling.) “If you can help an older relative or neighbor by making sure they have a working smoke alarm, you could possibly save a life,” Hudgens said.
Each household should have a well-rehearsed family escape plan, with at least two exit paths for every room. Older adults need to plan an escape route that they can easily utilize in case of an emergency.
Anyone with questions about how to create a fire escape plan can contact their local fire department or call Commissioner Hudgens’ Fire Safety Education Division at 800-656-2298.
