​ST. PAUL, Minn. — Seven people, including two children, have died in house fires this year compared to five at this time in 2014. The winter months are historically a dangerous time for residential fires in Minnesota. With plenty of cold weather yet to come, State Fire Marshal Bruce West reminds families to stay safe and prevent tragedy in their homes. 

“Escape options, planning and practice keep people alive in a building fire,” West said. “Children can be taught to get out and stay out if parents plan and practice with them often.”

According to the American Red Cross, 69 percent of parents believe their children would know what to do and how to escape a fire with little help. However, 82 percent of families have not practiced a home fire drill.

Fire safety and escape planning information

• Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Test alarms monthly and replace the batteries twice a year.
• Alarms should be replaced based on manufacturer recommendations.
• Draw a diagram of your home. Mark windows and doors and plan two ways out of each room.
• Teach your kids to crawl low if they see smoke. 
• Plan an outside meeting place — like the front yard — for everyone in your home.
• Practice your escape plan with every family member.
• Make sure kids know the sound of a smoke alarm and what to do when it goes off. 
• If you’re staying somewhere away from home, know how to escape there, too.
• Treat every smoke alarm activation as an emergency. Get out and stay out.
  

Fire prevention tips

• Stay in the kitchen when there is food cooking on the stove. Cooking is the no. 1 cause of house fires in Minnesota.
• Keep fire tools like matches and lighters away from children; locking those items up is best.
• Be a good role model and use fire responsibly; children model adult behavior.
• Use battery operated candles instead of flaming ones.
• Keep flammable materials at least three feet away from any heat source, including:
• Stoves
• Candles
• Fireplaces
• Furnaces and water heaters  

About the Minnesota Department Public Safety
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) comprises 11 divisions where 2,100 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.

About the State Fire Marshal Division
The mission of the State Fire Marshal Division is to protect lives and property by fostering a fire-safe environment through fire/arson investigation, code development and enforcement, regulation, data collection and public education. Data collected by the SFMD from fire departments statewide is analyzed and used to determine the best methods of public education and enforcement to improve fire safety in our state. 

2014 State Fire Marshal Division Highlights

• Staff conducted 4,800 fire code inspections
• Investigators assisted local departments on 412 fire investigations
• The 25th anniversary edition of Fire in Minnesota is online