Fire deaths hit new low

THE NUMBER of people who died by fire last year in New York City fell to an all-time low of 48, a huge drop that officials credit to a safety awareness campaign, faster response times, and the bravery of members of the FDNY.

In another bit of good news, the number of fires the FDNY labeled as “serious” decreased by 9% in 2016, the biggest year-to-year drop since 2008, said Mayor de Blasio.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” said de Blasio, who made the announcement at Engine Co. 9, Ladder 6 in lower Manhattan along with Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

The mayor said, “2016 saw the fewest fire deaths in New York City in any year since statistics were first kept, going all the way back to 1916.”

The highest number of deaths by fire was in 1970, when 310 people lost their lives.

The numbers have dropped fairly consistently since then, with last year’s record a 19% decline from the year before.

Some 59 people died in fires in 2015.

In the past year, the FDNY has seen a five-second faster average response time for structural fires reported to 911, according to the stats.

The 2016 average was four minutes, 52 seconds, the FDNY said.

“Every improvement matters when it comes to response times,” de Blasio said.

Response times also improved for life-threatening medical emergencies by 21 seconds, falling from nine minutes, 20 seconds.

Electrical fires caused 14 of the fatal 2016 fires, including nine from power strips and extension cords, officials said.

Nigro said that people should only use UL-approved power strips and not “piggy back” the cords and strips together.

“If it sounds like a bad idea, it most likely is,” he said.

Smoking was the second most common cause of fatal fires, accounting for 12, while cooking came in at No. 3. That was listed as the cause 11 times.

Even something as seemingly innocuous as incense can be dangerous.

The hippie favorite was blamed in two of the fire deaths in 2016, officials said.

In 30 of the 48 fire deaths in 2016, the victims had no smoke alarm, officials said.

De Blasio also took time to note another fire death in 2016 — Battalion Chief Michael Fahy, who died in the line of duty in September.

“He will inspire all those who serve in this department going forward,” de Blasio said.