Governor Gretchen Whitmer Proclaims October as Fire Prevention Month in Michigan

LANSING, MI - Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed October as Fire Prevention Month in Michigan to raise awareness about simple but important ways to stay safe in the event of a residential fire.

The proclamation coincides with the National Fire Prevention Association’s (NFPA) Fire Prevention Week scheduled for October 6-12, 2024. This year's theme is "Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!"

"The best way to ensure your own safety, and the safety of your loved ones, is to know how to prevent and escape from a fire." said Marlon I. Brown, Director of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). "Everyone should have two ways to escape out of every room in the residence and regularly practice their escape plan. Also, be sure to test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and practice cooking safety in the kitchen or at the grill. Let’s be proactive and work to keep each other safe."

Fatal fire statistics for 2024 show that as of September 1, Michigan has experienced 72 fatalities resulting from 69 fires. This is a 14% decrease in year-to-date fire related deaths from 2023. Fire departments throughout the state responded to approximately 14,509 residential fires, and 2,923 of those fires were cooking fires according to data gathered through the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

"I urge Michigan residents to not fight the fire in these situations. Leave your residence immediately, call 911 and live another day," said State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer. "Firefighters have the training and equipment to handle fires and toxic smoke.”

MI Prevention, in conjunction with the NFPA, offers these safety tips to help reduce the risk of a residential fire. These precautions cut a family’s risk of dying in a residential fire in half:

• Have working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of your residence

• Have working carbon monoxide detectors on each level

• Close bedroom doors when you are sleeping – closed doors are the best defense against these fast-moving fatal fires

• Assist older adults in your family by installing smoke alarms

• Identify and correct any fire hazards in your residence

Throughout October, MI Prevention is extending educational outreach efforts to Michigan fire departments and the public with a community outreach kit containing daily fire safety tips. Sehlmeyer will be travelling to schools across Michigan as well to help students understand the importance of fire safety.