As the Midwest experiences extreme cold, federal, state and local officials will come together in Columbus to raise awareness of the fire dangers associated with cold temperatures and call for precautions to prevent fire-related injuries and deaths.
The event occurs 10 a.m. Wednesday at Columbus Fire Station 16.
Ohio Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon will join U.S. Fire Administration Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 5 Administrator Tom Sivak and officials from the Columbus Division of Fire and the City of Columbus.
The visit is part of a three-city trip to call attention to the dangers associated with cold weather. Federal officials were also scheduled to make stops in Detroit and Chicago.
The Columbus event occurs ahead of the Department of Homeland Security’s Extreme Cold Summit which aims to convene voices and resources from across the country to share local community challenges, winter vulnerabilities, and real-life actionable steps to combat the impact of extreme cold.
Fire dangers increase during the winter months and claim more lives than any other time of the year. Since Jan. 1, more than 140 people have died in home fires nationwide, including more than 25 children. That’s an average of eight fire fatalities each day. At this rate, fire deaths are on track to hit 3,000 in 2024, which would exceed the 2,300 deaths that occurred in 2023. Those deaths included 232 children, 498 older adults and 85 firefighters.
While 2023 fire-related fatalities in Ohio were down year over year from 2022, there are still alarming causes for concern. The known causes of preventable fire fatalities continue to involve the improper use of winter heating methods, smoking-related and smoking while on oxygen, and instances of hoarding. So far in 2024, 10 individuals in Ohio have died as a result of home fires.
To learn more about the Division of State Fire Marshal, visit com.ohio.gov…
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