The New Journal – Thursday, December 29, 2011

Article Written by TERRI SANGINITI

Delaware Sees Record Low In Fire Fatalities This Year

Only two people died in fatal fires in Delaware in 2011 – the smallest number since the state Fire Marshal’s Office began keeping fatality statistics in the 1970s. The number of residential fire deaths was down significantly from the 15 fatalities in 2010.

In both instances, neither of the victim’s homes was equipped with a smoke detector, Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio said.

On Feb. 4, an 81-year-old man lost his life when a fire erupted at his home in the 300 block of Welch Tract Road in Newark. The cause of the fire was attributed to a portable heater too close to combustibles.

Then on March 3, a 64-year-old woman died when fire ripped through her Frankford home in the 34000 block of Pyle Center Road. An investigation determined that the deadly fire was triggered by an electrical malfunction.

Chionchio credited the drop in fatalities to smoke alarms and the continued proactive fire prevention efforts on the part of local firefighters in preventing fires.

“Detecting the fire in its early stages through a smoke alarm and then knowing what to do when the alarm sounds by having an escape plan greatly increase your chances of survival,” Chionchio said.

Volunteer firefighters in the state have invested thousands of hours doing fire prevention up and down the state with open houses, public displays and school visits educating the public on how to prevent a fire from occurring, he said.

This year’s low number is “a nice reward” for all their efforts, Chionchio said. In the last decade, Delaware lost 101 people in fatal fires. Another 26 died in 2001, the year that 11 family members died in their Oak Orchard home.

The following year, fire deaths in the state dropped to 4, which is the lowest number of fatalities until this year.

Additional fire prevention information regarding Delaware’s Wake up Delaware efforts can be viewed at the following website:

(1) http://www.dvfassn.com/wakeupdelaware.cfm