Officials Urge Preparation After Spike in Home Fire Deaths

A flurry of fatal home fires last month has prompted state officials to encourage families to prepare.

17 people died, including seven children. One of the adults was a Gwinn woman, who perished in her mobile home.

State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer is urging Michiganders to spend time developing and practicing a fire escape plan with their families.

The Bureau of Fire Services has created a document for Michiganders to review, download, and print to help them develop their fire escape plan.

Families also need to practice the plan, because – on average – they will have less than three minutes to escape a home fire because of the toxic gasses, smoke, and lack of oxygen.

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a home. They should be checked monthly, and the batteries changed frequently. Some newer smoke alarms come with lithium batteries that can last up to ten years.

See and print the escape plan worksheet here.