newsminer.com

With the death of a Fairbanks man early Saturday, the number of fire deaths in Alaska hit four in just the first 10 days of the year.

The Red Cross, as of last week, had responded to 27 house fires statewide since Dec. 1.

These numbers are higher than normal, probably because of the recent cold spell, but no one should shrug them off as inevitable. The deaths are especially troubling. There were 19 fire deaths in Alaska during all of 2008. To have four in the first few days of the year is a discouraging start.

Even when a home can’t be saved, lives often can be if a working smoke alarm is present.

State fire officials have created a clever reminder for people who have trouble remembering to check on this essential piece of equipment.

At the state Division of Fire and Life Safety’s Web site, www.akburny.com, you can sign up for a free monthly e-mail that reminds you to test your smoke alarms. Click on “Smoke Alarm Reminder” in the quick links.

Batteries in smoke alarms should be changed twice a year, according to the division. Some longer-lasting batteries can provide current for up to 10 years, but smoke alarms with such power sources still should be checked because other problems can develop.

Smoke alarms also should be cleaned regularly with a vacuum to remove dust, which can hamper detection, according to the division.

Practicing an escape plan is another important step that people can take. Such practice can be especially important for children.

State Fire Marshal David Tyler, who many Fairbanksans know from his years of service in this area, noted last fall that some people are even installing home sprinkler systems. He said the residential systems can put a fire out before it becomes dangerous, and they are “relatively inexpensive.”

Fire-related deaths increase between October and April, according to the division. During that time, Alaskans put more demand on their heating systems or supplement with additional systems such as woodstoves or electric heaters. Unfortunately, we seem to be fitting the pattern all too well this winter.

To stop that trend, we all need to make sure both our heating systems and our escape systems are in good order.