Philadelphia can prevent more deadly fires

By Curtis Jones Jr. and Lloyd Ayers

Last month, Philadelphia lost three children, two mothers, a grandfather, and a great-grandmother in three separate house fires. In all three, the homes were not equipped with working smoke alarms.

Since January, fire has claimed the lives of 16 Philadelphians. A vast majority of these fires occurred in homes without working smoke alarms.

The Philadelphia Fire Department has been working for decades to get more homes equipped with working smoke alarms. We've made progress: Fatalities and civilian and firefighter injuries have decreased.

However, preventable tragedies continue to take place. Last year, 32 Philadelphians died in residential fires; 84 percent of those deaths could have been prevented, primarily with working, properly installed smoke alarms.

More than two-thirds of fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or with alarms that aren't working, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Missing or disconnected batteries are the most common cause of alarm failures.

In the coming weeks, City Council will consider legislation that would require long-life, tamper-resistant smoke alarms in one- and two-family homes. The type of alarm required contains a battery that will power the unit for at least 10 years and that cannot be removed by residents. This would help ensure that more homes have working smoke alarms.

These alarms cost an average of $18 to $20, roughly $5 more than traditional battery-operated smoke alarms. But they typically save $40 in battery replacement costs over their 10-year life.

Recently, through an annual Operation Save a Life event, 7,100 such alarms were donated to area fire departments. We encourage residents to call local fire officials or 311 to see if any are available.

We also encourage residents to take the "Philadelphia Home Fire Safety Pledge," on the Fire Department's website, and to:

Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home, in bedrooms, and in outdoor sleeping areas.

Develop and practice an escape plan.

Test smoke alarms monthly and change batteries twice a year. Immediately install a new battery if a unit emits a low chirp. Never disable a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm.

Replace alarms every 10 years, preferably with long-life units.

The work of the Fire Department's volunteer fire safety representatives, partnerships with corporations and community groups, and the cooperation of residents have helped reduce fire fatalities and injuries. But we need to do more. City Council can help by requiring long-life smoke alarms.

Curtis Jones Jr. is a Philadelphia councilman representing the Fourth District. Lloyd Ayers is Philadelphia's fire commissioner. For more information, see www.phila.gov/fire.