Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.Omaha had gone three years without a fire death, the longest stretch since at least 1949. It was a remarkable streak lauded by fire officials in other states.
But since just before Christmas, two people have died.
In a drive that started well before the recent deaths, the Fire Department and a local foundation are pushing for the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in every Omaha home.
"A smoke detector will increase your chance of survival by 50 percent," said Jim Gentile, Omaha assistant fire marshal. "It gives citizens a chance to get out of the house before a fire makes headway."
The focus is especially on older neighborhoods. Fire officials estimate that 49,000 homes east of 72nd Street are without detectors.
For people in owner-occupied, single-family dwellings, firefighters will install them for free. (Call 402-444-3560.)
Both of the recent Omaha deaths came in the dark of night, both of the people who died were elderly, and both lived in older sections of the city.
On Dec. 23, Kathryn Collins, 77, died from a fire discovered at 5:40 a.m. at her home, 3941 Hartman Ave. Although the house had a smoke detector on the second floor, the fire started in her first-floor bedroom with the door closed, and by the time an alarm sounded it was too late. Gentile said the cause apparently was electrical.
On Jan. 28, R.C. Swiney, 78, died from a fire about 3 a.m. at his home, 3915 N. 18th St. Smoking materials apparently had ignited sheets or blankets, officials said, and the home had no working smoke alarms.
Supporting the effort for more smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is the First Responders Critical Support Foundation, whose chairman is Jim Young, president, chairman and CEO of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Ray Somberg, the foundation's executive director, said more than $100,000 has been raised for "Operation Home Safe Outreach."
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Said Somberg: "This will save some lives."
Gentile said the Fire Department believes it already has. Firefighters have installed nearly 7,800 smoke alarms since 2008.
From 2001 to 2008 in Omaha, 40 people died from fires, or five per year. Then, amazingly, there were none in 2009, none in 2010 and only the one at the end of 2011.
Fire Department officials attributed the low death rate to increased firefighter training and more building inspections, as well as school visits and other public education — and smoke-detector installations.
Nationally, 70 percent of all fire-related deaths in residences are said to occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
"Working," Gentile said, is the key word. Batteries should be changed twice a year.
The First Responders Foundation originated three years ago as the Firefighter and Police Appreciation Foundation. It raised more than $600,000 for police and fire equipment and sponsored an appreciation day on June 10, 2010.
Somberg said the foundation's name was changed to better reflect its mission of raising money for projects that will provide better safety for Omaha residents, as well as to continue showing appreciation to first responders.
The foundation is planning a "thumbs up" campaign, urging citizens to give a thumbs-up sign when they see police officers or firefighters.
And with the continued push for smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, they hope to keep the number of fire-related deaths and injuries low.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1132, michael.kelly@owh.com
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