1. A small number of families
(25 percent) have actually developed and
practiced a home fire escape plan.
2. 70% - 80% of people killed
in home fires did not have working smoke
alarms.
3. In 1998, children playing
with fire started 67,490 fires that were
reported to U.S. fire departments, causing an
estimated 232 civilian deaths, 1,805 civilian
injuries, and $234.7 million in direct
property damage.
4. One half of home fire
deaths occur in the 6 percent of homes with no
smoke alarms.
5. Although children five and
under make up about 9% of the country's
population, they accounted for 17 percent of
the home fire deaths, assigning them a risk
twice the national average.
6. Three in every 10 reported
home fires start in the kitchen - more than
any other place in the home.
7. 26 percent of Americans
said they have never thought about practicing
an escape plan and 3 percent said practice
wasn't necessary.
Source: NFPA's 1999 Home
Fire Escape Survey
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