Kansas on pace for one of deadliest fire years ever

The state of Kansas is on pace for one of its deadliest fire years in recent history.

As of March 31, there have been 15 civilian fire-related deaths and two firefighter deaths in the state since Jan. 1, according to Kansas State Fire Marshal Dan McLaughlin. At this pace, he said, the state could see a 50 percent increase in fire-related deaths over the previous five years and possibly the deadliest fire year ever.

In 2009, there were 40 civilian fire-related deaths and four firefighter deaths statewide. Overall, the state averages 33 civilian fire-related deaths and two firefighter deaths per year. In 2008 there were no firefighter fatalities in Kansas. McLaughlin said Kansas was one of the few states nationwide to not have a firefighter death.

In addition to the total number of fire incidents, the statistics regarding age and gender of fire fatalities are staggering. The average age of a fire casualty is 33.7-years-old, with males having twice the chance of becoming a fire casualty over females. However, at greatest risk for becoming a fire fatality are children ages 12 and under, and adults above the age of 65.

A majority of all fire-related deaths are due to structure fires, McLaughlin said, but in recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of rubbish and wildland fires. This increase is most likely caused by the use of a flammable substance to accelerate the burning process. Among structure fires, children playing with matches or candles, or space heaters igniting nearby materials are the greatest threat. Kansas experiences 5-7 fire related deaths that are caused by smoking with or around oxygen.

In an effort to prevent future fire-related fire deaths, the State Fire Marshal's office recommends the following safety tips:

* Always secure lighters, matches and incendiary devices where children cannot get to them.

* Always supervise children when candles are used, and never leave a candle unattended.

* When burning fields, check with local law enforcement and fire service representatives to make sure that it is safe to burn.

* Always notify law enforcement before burning.

* When burning wildland area, utilize back burns to minimize the chance of a fire moving to an unintended area.

* Burn pastures and fields in manageable sections.

* When burning rubbish or brush piles, do not use gasoline to accelerate the burning process, and never toss gasoline onto an already burning fire.

* If a vehicle becomes stuck in mud or muck, check the area under the vehicle often while attempting to recover the vehicle. Avoid parking on dry, tall grass. Catalytic converters and exhaust tubing often reach temperatures high enough to ignite natural vegetation.

* Never smoke with home oxygen or around those who use home oxygen. These are the easiest fires to prevent.

The majority of fire-related deaths in Kansas are preventable. McLaughlin encourages everyone to follow these common fire safety measures, use sound judgment, and remain vigilant with safety in order to stem the rise in fire casualties in the state.