The need in Mississippi
Safe at Home – Preventing Fires in Mississippi is about life and death. Mississippi has the highest average rate of fire deaths in the country. In 2007, 60 Mississippians died in fires, according to the State Fire Marshal's office.
Fires in Mississippi kill men, women, and children, Black and white, in mobile homes, apartments, and houses. Many Mississippians are unaware of the fire danger risks posed by their daily activities.
Here are the facts:
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FACT: Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Most cooking fires start when household items – such as clothing, food or grease, food wrappers, cabinets, or wall coverings – catch fire.
- FACT: Many homes lack central heating, and it is not uncommon for families to rely on space or electric heaters, ovens, and stoves to stay warm.
- FACT: Smoking is the deadliest cause of fire deaths, because smoking fires often occur at night when the smoker has fallen asleep. Even people who are not smoking die in fires caused by cigarettes.
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