Kingsport Marks Five Years Without a Fire Death
KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Fire Department and the City of Kingsport have reached a significant milestone today April 3, 2011. Kingsport marks five years without a fire death in the city.
We have continued to increase the level of safety throughout the City of Kingsport through the combined efforts of quick responding highly trained firefighters, regular fire inspections and aggressive fire and life safety education programs Chief Craig Dye stated.
The Kingsport Fire Department serves a population of over 50,000 and covers 51.25 sq miles. The total fire loss for Kingsport was estimated at only $759,729 for the entire year of 2011. Kingsport Firefighters receive on average over 17 hours of training per month.
The Fire Marshals office recorded 3,009 inspections in 2011. There were 41,211 adults and children participated in Kingsport Fire Departments Fire Prevention presentations and activities. The Kingsport Fire Department presents the NFPAs Learn Not To Burn program in each of the Citys Elementary Schools. In 2011 KFD began the NFPAs Remembering When Program with the Kingsport Senior Center teaching fall and fire safety.
National Statics And Fire Safety Tips
State Fire Death Rate (and DC)
District of Columbia 32.2
Oklahoma 26.4
Arkansas 24.1
West Virginia 23.7
Alabama 22.5
Mississippi 22.5
Tennessee 22.0
Louisiana 21.4
South Carolina 18.7
Alaska 17.5
Statistics provided by the United States Fire Administration (2008)
NFPAs Top Fire Safety Tips:
- Watch your cooking: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling bard. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
- Give space heaters space: Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Smoke outside: Ask smokers to smoke outside. Have sturdy, deep ashtrays for smokers.
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach: Keep matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a cabinet with a child lock.
- Inspect electrical cords: Replace cords that are cracked, damaged, have broken plugs, or have loose connections.
- Be careful when using candles: Keep candles at least one bart from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Have a home fire escape plan: Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
- Install smoke alarms: Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Interconnect smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
- Test smoke alarms: Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace conventional batteries once a year or when the alarm chirps to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.
- Install sprinklers: If you are building or remodeling your home, install residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive. -NFPA
NFPA Fire Loss Report United States: http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/os.fireloss.pdf
Fire Death Rate Trends: An International Perspective: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v12i8.pdf