Household Fires Claim Thousands of Lives Each Year

(ARA) - The statistics surrounding fire-related deaths and property damage in the United States are staggering. More than 500,000 household fires occur in this country alone each year, resulting in 5,000 deaths -- an average of 14 per day. The majority of those who die are children, the handicapped and the elderly, often because they are unable to quickly escape a burning structure.

In fact, the fire death rate among people over the age of 65 is twice as high as the national average, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA). Even worse, the fire death rate among people between ages 75 and 85 is three times the national average. After age 85, it rises to four times the national average.

In addition to the elderly and others who are physically challenged to escape in time, smokers are also at a higher risk of dying in a fire. Smoking has, and continues to be, one of the leading causes of residential fire deaths. That