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In 2007, media outlets in
Tennessee reported 74
fire-related fatalities.
On the surface, this appears to
be an improvement from the 83
deaths that were reported in
2006. Unfortunately, we
won't know the actual numbers
for some time now. Even as
2007 draws to a close, efforts
continue to finalize an accurate
fire death number from 2006.
Something is wrong with the
process...
Perhaps the lower number of
media-reported fatalities is the
actual result of fewer fire
deaths. That would be the
ultimate goal, but the accuracy
of tracking real-time
information this way has shown
to be flawed in years past.
For example, 2006 media reports
from Memphis reveal 14 fire
deaths, yet one media report
indicated that the official
number stood at 25.
Another example can be found
from 2007 in Nashville, as the
media-reported total stands at
7, another story counted 8 for
the year.
Until an "official" number from
2007 is labeled as such, we'll
hope that prevention efforts in
the state have paid off, and
we've actually seen a reduction
in Tennessee's fire deaths.
This progress will hopefully
serve as motivation to continue
these efforts, as 74 is still an
unacceptable number of fire
deaths in today's society.
The technology is there to
prevent these tragedies.
While we wait for those official
numbers, we can look back on
other success stories from 2007:
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- Fire-Safe Cigarettes
make their way into the
Volunteer State |
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- More than eighty of
you decided to attend
the FTUSA delivery in
Nashville |
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- Piperton passes
residential sprinkler
legislation, and Fayette
County follows suit |
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- FTUSA / NFSA launch
advocacy group |
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- Numerous other cities
and counties continue to
explore fire prevention
options |
As 2008 begins, there were three
tragic reminders, in the first
few hours of this new year, why
we must continue to push for
more effective fire protection
and prevention. The loss
of a young woman in Knoxville
and two small children in
Memphis offer sobering proof
that we've not yet done enough
to educate everyone on the
danger of fire.
Here's hoping you a motivated,
driven year in 2008.
Continue to share your stories
with us, so that we can share
with everyone else, and stay
safe.
-FTT Staff |
