NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 70

ADVOCACY,
Outreach by Lorraine Carli
LEGISLATION,
AND PUBLIC
EDUCATION
What Would Harry Do?
TODAY'S FIRE PROBLEM CONTAINS ECHOES OF THE CHALLENGES ARTICULATED
BY PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN 75 YEARS AGO
S
eventy-five years ago,
President Harry S. Truman
held The President 's
Conference on Fire Prevention,
where he implored
government, business, and the public to
tackle the fire problems plaguing the
nation. He singled out the LaSalle Hotel
fire in Chicago and Atlanta's Winecoff
Hotel fire, which together killed 170
people in 1946, as unacceptable and catastrophic
examples of fires that needed to
be eliminated. He highlighted forest fires
as a growing threat to the nation. Truman
continued his plea to act by referencing
the thousands of fires that were occurring
every day across the country without many
people even noticing, urging all Americans
to " dedicate ourselves anew to ceaseless
war upon the fire menace. "
Truman's 1947 event did in fact initiA
few troubling statistics from recent
The fire death rate
for one- and twofamily
home fires was
35 percent higher in
2021 than in 1980,
ate important action in fire prevention
and safety and is often referenced as
a catalyst for many changes that have
contributed to reducing fires and fire
deaths since. Activities associated with
the NFPA-sponsored Fire Prevention Week (FPW) intensified,
occurring in more communities across the country. (FPW, which
marked its 100th year during its most recent observance in
October, has become the longest-running public health observance
on record.) Ongoing fire-safety outreach efforts began to
take hold, and initiatives advanced that improved the protection
of buildings from fire.
Fast forward to today. We have made progress. It is unusual to
meaning you're more
likely to die in a
home fire today.
NFPA research underscore the need to
remain vigilant. Only a quarter of the
fires in 2021 occurred in home properties,
including one- or two-family homes
and apartments or other multifamily
housing. However, these fires caused
three-quarters of the civilian fire deaths
and injuries. If we drill down a little
further, 20 percent of fires occurred in
one- or two-family homes, yet these fires
caused nearly two-thirds of the civilian
fire deaths and over half of the civilian
fire injuries. The fire death rate for oneor
two-family home fires was 35 percent
higher than in 1980, meaning that you
are more likely to die in a home fire today
than you were four decades ago.
All of
the major
causes of
fire
decreased from 1980 to 2018 (the year of
the most recent data) except one: cooking,
which is consistently the leading
cause of home fires. The percentage of
home fires started by cooking in 2018 was
almost two and half times higher than it
was in 1980, and the percentage of cooking
fire deaths was twice as high. Another troubling trend in
home fires involves the impact of modern furniture, with the
home fire death rate in living rooms and bedrooms twice as
high in 2014-2018 as it was in 1980-1984.
Wildfire also warrants greater attention. These fires are
see large-loss-of-life fires in hotels and high-rises due to the use of
sprinklers. Similarly, we see fewer deaths and injuries in schools
because of fire drills. The numbers of home fires and home fire
deaths have decreased significantly due to the widespread use
of smoke alarms mandated by regulations, and through public
education efforts that highlight their importance. But emerging
issues and lingering challenges remain, requiring a Truman-style
call to action to combat the nation's complacency around fire.
70 | NFPA JOURNAL * WINTER 2022
getting bigger and are affecting more areas than ever before,
becoming the nation's dominant type of fire responsible for
catastrophic multiple deaths and large losses.
President Truman opened his conference by stating that
" Safety from fire should not be a topic for discussion only one
or two weeks of the year. " It was true then, and it's just as true
now. The data around today's fire challenges needs to be widely
shared and provide the foundation for the next call to action
to advance fire safety.
LORRAINE CARLI is vice president of Outreach and Advocacy for NFPA.
MICHAEL HOEWELER

NFPA Journal - Winter 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - Winter 2022

Contents
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - Cover1
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - Cover2
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 1
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 2
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 3
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - Contents
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 5
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 6
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 7
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 8
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 9
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 10
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 11
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 12
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 13
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 14
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 15
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 16
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 17
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 18
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 19
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 20
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 21
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 22
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 23
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 24
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 25
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 26
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 27
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 28
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 29
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 30
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 31
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 32
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 33
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 34
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 35
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 36
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 37
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 38
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 39
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 40
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 41
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 42
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 43
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 44
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 45
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 46
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 47
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 48
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 49
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 50
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 51
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 52
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 53
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 54
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 55
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 56
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 57
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 58
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 59
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 60
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 61
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 62
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 63
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 64
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 65
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 66
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 67
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 68
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 69
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 70
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 71
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 72
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 73
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 74
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 75
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 76
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 77
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 78
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 79
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 80
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 81
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 82
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 83
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 84
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 85
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 86
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 87
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - 88
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - Cover3
NFPA Journal - Winter 2022 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_201610_sprinkler
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120304
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com