OTTUMWA —
Forty-two Iowa residents died in house fires last year, but the Iowa Fire Marshal's office says the total could have been much, much higher.
The office credits smoke alarms with saving 217 people in 2012, a 16 percent rise from 2011. It points to a January 2012 case as typical. A Denison couple was sleeping when an adapter in an outlet began to burn at 3 a.m. Smoke detectors woke the couple, giving them time to evacuate and call the fire department.
The number of lives saved by smoke detectors has risen each year since 2010, when the office credits the devices with saving 146 people. In 2011, 186 lives were saved.
“Relying on Lady Luck is not a good fire prevention plan. A smoke alarm does not rely on luck to wake a person during a fire,” said State Fire Marshal Ray Reynolds.
Community News Network
It's 3 a.m. Do you know where your smoke detector is?
- Community News Network
-
-
Owning a pit bull in Pa. is doggone expensive
Pit bulls “are considered dangerous animals/dogs and potentially hazardous to the community,” a Bessemer, Pa., ordinance states.
-
VIDEO: Snake learns how to open doors
We've seen cats open doors. We've seen dogs open doors. But have you ever seen a snake open a door? This python can.
-
Men's Wearhouse founder George Zimmer fired
Men's Wearhouse's board fired George Zimmer, the founder and public face of the company, as executive chairman without saying why and delayed its annual shareholder meeting.
-
VIDEO: Obama renews call for nuclear reductions
President Barack Obama is calling for a one-third reduction of the world's nuclear stockpiles. Speaking at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, he says he intends to seek negotiated cuts with Russia to move beyond a Cold War nuclear posture.
-
VIDEO: Journalist Michael Hastings killed in Hollywood crash
A man killed in a fiery car crash in Hollywood on Tuesday was award-winning journalist Michael Hastings, his employer said.
-
Are sunscreen chemicals something to worry about?
As the season of bare skin and scorching sun draws near, you — like so many other people — may find yourself scratching your head over sunscreen.
-
Eldest of 19 Duggar kids hired by D.C. lobbying group
After three decades of fighting the culture wars from within the Washington establishment, the conservative Family Research Council decided that it needed a fresh, new face to reach outside and cultivate the grass roots.
- Archery shoot Saturday and Sunday Archery shoot this weekend OTTUMWA -- The Ottumwa Izaak Walton League will be holding an archery shoot from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. This is a makeup shoot from May. In addition, the League will hold a special Bing
- Rathbun Lake crests; park sites open Rathbun Lake crests; park sites open CENTERVILLE -- With high water levels at Rathbun Lake this spring, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake has crested and is lowering and that park facilities are open and ready for use. Project personn
- New books featured at open house ELDON -- The Eldon Public Library is inviting the public to an open house from 1-5 p.m. Friday to celebrate the arrival of 70 new books to the library. Thanks to The Libri Foundation, with matching funds from the Friends of the Eldon Public Library,
- More Community News Network Headlines
-
