This is fire prevention month, and the state wants you to do things to make your home safer.
State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer says the top cause of deadly fires in Michigan is smoking, followed by cooking. He says far too many people don’t have smoke detectors, and that could have tragic consequences.
“As we study 81 fire fatalities so far this year in 2023, we’re noticing that in about 73% of those 75 fatal fires, they did not have a working smoke alarm,” Sehlmeyer said. “When I say they didn’t have a working smoke alarm, I didn’t say they didn’t have a smoke alarm. I said they didn’t have a working smoke alarm. In many cases it’s because they had a nine volt battery and the battery is dead.”
Sehlmeyer says people should never smoke in bed or on a couch. He also reminds everyone to always pay attention while cooking.
