With the winter of 2019 wearing on with increasingly frigid temperatures, State Fire Marshall Kevin Sehlmeyer urges fire safety for all Michiganders, especially the elderly who are most at risk when it comes to fire. Of the 104 fatal fires in Michigan in 2018, 60 percent of the fires started in a bedroom or living room. Many of the fatal fires involved space heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, and overloaded electric wiring. By having working smoke alarms it reduces the risk of dying in a fire by as much as 60 percent. Other winter safety tips include don’t overload your electric plugs, have a clear exit to exterior doors, plug a space heater directly in a wall and check smoke alarms monthly. For more tips visit michigan.gov/lara
