Ken Tyree, West Virginia State Fire Marshal, would like to ask a few minutes of a person’s time.
The time invested now could pay off in saving a life.
The United States Fire Administration reports that in 2023 West Virginia experienced 5.5 deaths and 7.6 injuries per 1,000 fires. Deaths came in at more than double the national average of 2.1 and higher than the injury rate of 6.4.
When it comes to residential deaths and injuries, the numbers grow more ominous. In 2023, the Mountain State saw 15.8 deaths per residential structure fire, triple the national average. Injuries in residential fires, 19.7 per 1,000, matched the national rate.
With fire departments around West Virginia and across the nation seeing challenges on multiple fronts, every potential measure to bring those numbers down deserves consideration. Tyree found one opportunity online.
“I was on the ‘net’ and a person I didn’t even know was pushing . . . community risk reduction,” he shared. That took him to a company called Virtual CRR, who now has provided the West Virginia Fire Marshal’s office with a new tool to help educate and prevent fires and related death and injury. It takes the form of a simple survey that Tyree hopes every West Virginian at some point will answer.
Doug Mongold, chief of the Moorefield Volunteer Fire Department, explains, “It is important because we are trying to get information to help lower the fire death rate.” Tyree calls that death rate “unacceptable.”
The survey works along multiple tracks. It asks questions about smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, fire extinguisher ownership and use.
The survey also inquires about safety knowledge and home health oxygen equipment. Information gathered gives fire officials a clearer picture of their community.
Getting that clear picture helps state and local officials because “it’s an opportunity to deliver something to everyone because there are differences in our rural and geographical circumstances” throughout the state.
Additionally, the respondent, based on how he or she answers the questions, will receive information on how to make the home safer and also on house fire escape planning.
People will also learn through taking the survey. “A lot of people don’t realize they should be sleeping with their door closed at night,” offered Tyree. The survey asks that specific question as well. Tyree explained that a closed door offers “an extra layer of safety” that allows time for residents to detect the fire before inhaling too much smoke.
The fire marshal also hopes that individuals will be proactive in helping others learn about and even complete the survey, which can be taken on a smartphone or a computer via a link at the West Virginia Fire Marshal’s office website, https://firemarshal.wv.gov. “Take it to an elderly parent or neighbor,” he urges, then ask that if they need assistance, to “help them take it.”
“As a senior fire official,” Tyree stated, “I’ve taken a huge step and a huge challenge” in working to promote the survey “county by county, community by community.” He hopes to get at least 25 percent in the first 12 to 15 months.
Caption:
The QR code links to a brief survey that provides vital, non-personal information and also fire safety education.
