Residential fire sprinklers can save lives and property

Recently Rick Davis, mayor of the Bootheel community of Caruthersville, died of apparent smoke inhalation in his second-story bedroom, after his house caught fire late Wednesday night, July 23. The mayor's passing came just days after a Southwest Missouri woman died in a house fire in Seymour. Mr. Davis became the 31st casualty on the growing list of reported civilian fire fatalities in Missouri in 2014. I can only hope that the silver lining in the tragic loss of such a prominent and well-respected community member like Mr. Davis is that his death will serve as a reminder that fire does not discriminate, and can strike at any time and in any type of home. 

While no one is safe from fire, there are ways that people can protect themselves and their loved ones from its ravages. Every home should have working smoke alarms in all common areas and in each bedroom. Smoke alarms should be tested once a month and batteries should be replaced when the clocks are changed for Daylight Savings Time. Families should also practice emergency fire drills, especially if there are young children in the house.

In 2011, the latest year for which we have official data, property loss from residential structure fires alone in Missouri was an estimated $45 million. The recent fires in Caruthersville and Seymour, as well as the fire which destroyed a home in Carl Junction on July 29, only continue to add more dollars to the ever-increasing totals of fire damage in the state.

Despite all of this loss, Missouri is still resisting the concept of installing residential fire sprinkler systems in newly constructed one- and two-family homes. While working smoke alarms are an effective way to alert residents to a fire, fire sprinklers are the only form of proactive fire protection and can protect lives and property by immediately reacting, controlling and even extinguishing a fire.

I urge all citizens to check the batteries in their smoke alarms, educate themselves on the current fire protection requirements in their own cities and states, and learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones from the dangers of fire. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims' family and friends.

 

Chris Gaut, of Branson, Missouri, is the central regional manager of the National Fire Sprinkler Association.