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USFA CAMPAIGN TO END CARELESS SMOKING FIRES

CROFTON, MD (January 22, 2008) - The United States Fire Administration has announced the opening of a campaign to end the #1 cause of fatal home fire deaths-fires caused by careless smoking. The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) applauds this effort and offers their full support of this campaign. The details of the campaign can be found at: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/media/press/2008releases/010908.shtm.

IAAI President Thomas J. Fee stated; “Approximately 1,000 people are killed each year in fires where the cause has been identified as the careless use of smoking materials. In many cases, the victims are children, the elderly or public safety responders. All of our members have been affected by these tragedies. I call on all IAAI members to enthusiastically support this worthwhile campaign”.

The United States Centers for Disease Control reports that US fire departments responded to over 412,000 residential fires in 2006. These fires killed almost 2600 people and injured almost 13,000. The cost of these fires is over $7 billion per year. Approximately half of all residential fire deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors.

The International Association of Arson Investigators is dedicated to improving the professional development of fire and explosion investigators by being the global resource for fire investigation training, technology and research. They have a world-wide membership of approximately 7,000 persons representing the fire service, law enforcement, insurance industry and professional engineering communities.

For interview requests, please contact President Thomas J. Fee or Executive Director Jason Campbell at the following address:

International Association of Arson Investigators

2151 Priest Bridge Drive, Suite 25
Crofton , MD 21114
410-451-FIRE(3473)
Fax 410-451-9049