Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

On Thursday, March 6, 2014, tragedy befell Ahoskie, N.C. when a pile of clothes that was placed too close to a kerosene heater started a fire that claimed the lives of two sisters, 12 and 13 years old. The fire also left their younger half-brother, eight years old, and their father in critical condition. 

The family was sleeping when the fire began at around 3 a.m. and the house was not equipped with working smoke detectors. Too often these are the conditions of devastating fires like this one. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire claims an average of nine lives every day in the United States, and far too often they are the lives of those who rely on our protection the most like children and the elderly.

Fire does not discriminate and can strike at any time and in any type of home, but working smoke detectors and fire sprinklers can help to avoid potential injuries and tragedies like this from occurring. Properly installed and maintained fire sprinklers control and typically extinguish a fire before the fire department even arrives on the scene.

I urge you to check the batteries in your smoke alarms, educate yourself on the current fire protection requirements in your own city and state, and learn how to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from the ravages of fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their family at this time.

Sincerely,

Russell Fleming

President, National Fire Sprinkler Association

Patterson, NY

845 878-4200

fleming@nfsa.org