An Omaha Fire Department fire truck arrives at a call. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)
Oct. 6-12 is Fire Prevention Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness about fire safety, fire prevention and how to respond effectively if a fire occurs.
During this week, it’s important to recognize that smoking is a leading cause of residential building fires.
In 2023, Nebraska recorded 129 smoking-related fires, 28% of which were in multi-family dwellings, according to Tobacco Free Nebraska . These fires resulted in two civilian injuries, three firefighter injuries and a property loss of more than $1.1 million.
Nationally, the statistics are alarming. Between 2013 and 2022, an average of 335 people died each year in residential building fires caused by smoking, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
In Douglas County, property owners and renters can join the Metro Omaha Tobacco Action Coalition (MOTAC) to prevent fires caused by smoking, protect our neighbors from the harms of secondhand smoke and create a healthier community for everyone.