The St. John Professional Fire Fighters Association is organizing a blood drive on Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The blood mobile will be parked in front of the Emergency Operation Center, 1801 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace. Please come out and help the blood center.

I was doing a little research on residential fires and ran across some very interesting facts about deaths, injuries and property loss from a study by the United States Fires Administration. Please take note of where fires occur, what time they happen and the cause.

The U.S. fire death rate has gone down dramatically over the past three decades since the creation of the USFA, from over 30 deaths per million population to 11 deaths per million population. The United States, however, continues to have one of the highest fire death rates per capita among western nations . The original goal for USFA was to help lead a reduction in fire deaths by 50 percent in a generation. With annual fire deaths dropping from over 9,000 to less than 3,500 in that period of time, USFA’s goal has been achieved. Nevertheless, fire deaths are still high.

Approximately 1,800 fatal residential building fires occurred annually in recent years (2006 to 2008). These fires resulted in an annual average of approximately 2,635 deaths, 725 injuries, and $196 million in property loss

Fatal residential fires occur most frequently in the late evening and early morning hours, peaking from midnight to 5 a.m. One-third of fatal residential fires occur during these five hours. They then decline throughout the day, reaching the lowest point during the early afternoon hours.

If smoke alarms are not

present, sleeping individuals may die before waking up to

a fire. Second, and related,

cigarette and other smoldering fires started by careless

actions before people retire

for the night may go unnoticed and grow to rapidly progressing fires while they are

sleeping.

Fatal residential fires have much higher incidence in the cooler months — twice that of the summer months, perhaps as a result of increased activities indoors. Fatal residential fires peak in January at 13 percent. Fire incidence declines steadily after January, reaching the lowest incidence during the summer months.

Nineteen percent of all fatal residential fires are smoking related. Although not as prominent as it once was, smoking (with rare exceptions) has been the leading cause of fatal residential fires since the National Fire Incident Report’s inception. Fires caused by electrical malfunctions and intentionally set fires are the next leading specific causes.

Fatal residential fires start most frequently in bedrooms (27 percent) and common rooms including dens, family rooms, living rooms and lounges (23 per-cent). Fires starting in cooking areas or kitchens account for15 percent of fires.

Please take note of the causes and times that fires happen and pass along to everyone. Please be safe and make sure you have a smoke alarm in your house.

Michael Heath is president of the St. John Professional Firefighters Association.