CADILLAC — In 2024, 147 Michiganders lost their lives to fires - one of the deadliest years in a decade. State investigators say many victims were found just feet from their doors, unable to escape in time.
Michael McLeieer is a 30 year veteran firefighter and president of non profit ‘Education Showing Children and Adults Procedures for Evacuations’ also known as E.S.C.A.P.E.
McLeieer’s said people should be vigilant about preventing fire. “We as humans need to make sure that we’re doing our part to prevent the fire, the best fire is a fire that never happens.”
McLeieer teaches families how to prevent fires through E.S.C.A.P.E.
“One message for fire prevention week is test those smoke alarms,” said McLeieer. “Many fire departments across the state of Michigan have the availability to be able to obtain free smoke alarms and install them at homes free of charge.”
But there’s a group of people that traditional smoke alarms don’t work for who face danger. Former Michigan state fire marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer said those with hearing loss are especially at risk.
“Maybe the reason that a lot of older folks are dying in fires in Michigan, that I saw in the data when I was the state fire marshal, is maybe they’re not hearing the alarm,” said Sehlmeyer.
For those with hearing loss there’s another smoke alarm available.
“The device that we have is the Home Aware Two, It’s about the size of a clock radio. And what it actually does is show when the smoke alarm goes off, it’ll scroll smoke,” said Sehlmeyer. “It also has a light up here that flashes and it has a device that’s the shape of a hockey puck that goes under the bed or the pillow, and it shakes. And that’s how we alert people to know that their smoke alarm is going off.”
Families should also have an emergency exit plan.
“Making sure that they have those ways out from every way of the home. Two ways out, one way could be a door, the second way out could be a window,” said McLeieer. “Making sure that they have ways out from every part of the home.
Fire prevention week runs through Sunday.