Wilton Fire Marshal's Office

WILTON FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTNERS WITH USFA TO KICK OFF NEW FIRE SAFETY CAMPAIGN FOR PEOPLE AGES 50 AND OLDER

Community-wide Effort to Lower Escalating Fire Death Rates Among Older Population from Careless Smoking, Cooking and Heating

Wilton, CT Nov. 1,2004 – The Wilton Fire Department today launched A Fire Safety Campaign for People 50-Plus to prevent the community’s older citizens from joining fire death statistics that escalate dramatically beginning at age 65. The fire department is conducting the campaign in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Each year, approximately 1,100 Americans ages 65 and older die in home fires and another 3,000 are injured. People ages 65 and older are three times as likely to die in a residential fire as the rest of the population. Careless smoking, cooking and heating practices are the top three causes of fire deaths among people ages 65 and older.

“Our firefighters will teach people simple steps for safe smoking, cooking and heating their homes – steps that will help them avoid unspeakable tragedy,” said Paul Milositz, Fire Chief. “We will also encourage our older citizens to maintain their smoke alarms, develop and practice a fire escape plan, and if at all possible, install home fire sprinklers.” Chief Milositz noted that the campaign reaches out to the 65-plus population and to people ages 50 and older who often care for and will soon enter this high risk group.

In Connecticut people ages 65 and older were twice as likely as the rest of the population to die in a residential fire from 1989 through 1998. In that decade 92 adults ages 65 and older died in residential fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

“We welcome invitations from community and faith-based organizations to present fire safety programs for people ages 50 and older, their families and caregivers,” said Chief Milositz. “Our firefighters will also make home visits to point out fire hazards, help plan escape routes and provide fire safety materials.”

Contact the Wilton Fire Department at (203) 834-6248 to schedule a fire safety presentation or request a home visit. A Fire Safety Campaign for People 50-Plus campaign materials are available through the fire department website www.wiltonfire.org or at the FEMA website www.usfa.fema.gov/50Plus.