Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Alabama Sees Alarming Spike In Fire Deaths In 2014

19 people have died in fires across the state so far this year.
Alabama Department of Insurance
19 people have died in fires across the state so far this year.

Alabama fire officials say the state has seen an alarming increase in fire deaths.

19 people have died in fires across the state so far this year.

In 2012, 71 people died in Alabama fires. Only six of them died in January 2012, well below the number of people who have died so far this year.

In Jefferson County alone, seven people died in fires in the first 21 days of 2014. There were only two for the same time period last year. In all of 2013, there were 24 fire fatalities.

Birmingham Fire Battalion Chief C.W. Mardis said an unfortunate result of cold weather is an influx of fires related to heating sources.

News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.