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In January, two fatal fires highlighted a crisis of inequality in America: minority communities are at a higher risk of being injured or killed in a fire.
The residential blazes, one in New York and the other in Philadelphia, killed a total of 29 people, 16 of those were children. Both happened in predominantly Black neighborhoods and in buildings catering to low-income tenants, where ongoing neglect of maintenance and warnings created elevated risk.
Unfortunately, this type of tragedy is not uncommon. Today, socioeconomic factors are among the best-known predictors of fire rates, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Socioeconomic situations, age, disabilities, and other factors dramatically impact who’s at risk and why. “Fire is not an evenly distributed risk throughout society,” states a 2022 working paper funded by the NFPA. “Poor and marginalized communities are often exposed to higher fire risks at their homes, work, and in their communities, and they tend to have lower coping capacities to deal with the consequences of fire.”
In October, as Fire Prevention Month marks its 100th year, Kidde, the most installed fire-safety brand in North America*, is helping to address these disparities with Cause For Alarm—an education and safety initiative that addresses fire safety gaps in underserved communities.
Here’s how you can help ensure everyone is protected at home.
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Bringing Awareness to Underserved Communities
Safety is not the same for everyone.
States with a higher number of rural residents, larger Indigenous or Black populations, or an increased number of smokers are all at increased risk for fire injury or death. According to a 2020 report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Black males in particular have the highest death rate per million, with a rate of 19.1.
Overall, fatal residential fires disproportionately affect Black communities, where the risk is almost twice that of individuals of any other race. Income is also a determining factor. Weak state laws and subpar building management, particularly in low-income or public housing, enable outdated building codes that don’t require as many safety measures. In addition, the elderly are 2.5 times more likely to die in a residential fire than the rest of the population, and approximately 700 home fires involving people with physical disabilities happen each year.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Power of Prevention Education and Outreach
According to the NFPA, a lack of access to fire safety educational resources and websites in popular languages spoken in the U.S. contributes to the gap in fire safety.
Education can improve the universal right of home safety by informing communities about fire prevention and protection—a simple step that can help at-risk residents who are currently overlooked or underserved.
To change the status quo, Cause For Alarm is proactively educating residents about putting control of their health and safety into their own hands. Drawing experience from over 100 years of providing safety to homes, Kidde is using key partnerships, product donations, and educational resources to provide all communities with support to help stop incidents before they occur. Kidde, for instance, is offering copyright-free brochures in both English and Spanish collected on a single site page that safety clinics, schools, outreach programs, and more can download, print, and post anywhere.
Protecting Your Home—And Neighbors
The top thing you can do to help protect you and your family is make sure you have working smoke alarms.
According to the NFPA, three out of five fire deaths that happen at home occur in houses without working smoke alarms. A smoke alarm doubles your chances of surviving a home fire, which is why it’s so important to test alarms and change batteries regularly. Many smoke alarms are now hard-wired into the home and have interconnectivity options. But they still require regular check-ins to make sure they’re functioning properly.
As a global leader in fire safety, Kidde is aiming to both raise awareness and help protect homes with its innovative products. The Kidde Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm with smart features, for instance, offers enhanced sensing capability for both smoke and carbon monoxide in a single device. It’s easy to install, thanks to QR code instructions, and has a 10-year, sealed-in lithium backup battery that keeps homeowners safe even if the power goes out. Connected with the Kidde app, the alarm also helps protect the home no matter the location of the homeowner, sending instant notifications if smoke or CO is detected.
Kidde is also a part of Carrier’s Healthy Homes program, which provides a suite of targeted solutions to help improve the overall health and safety of homes. This includes fire safety solutions from Kidde, as well as a full line of Carrier HVAC solutions that help put residents in control of indoor air quality, comfort, humidity and other factors that impact their health and wellness.
Want to get involved? Cause For Alarm is also partnering with customers to give back this fall. From September to November 2022, purchase a Kidde alarm at The Home Depot and other participating businesses to trigger a $1 contribution for alarm donations up to $1,000,000 in total retail value to communities in need through Habitat for Humanity and the FDNY Foundation.
Buying an alarm is a simple way for both you and Kidde to give back—while also staying safer in your home. Find out more at Kidde.com.
*Based on total household installations as of December 2021.
This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Kidde.
