No children died in fires in Massachusetts in 2020, marking a first for the state, which also saw a drop in fire-related fatalities.
Last year, 39 people died in fires, down slightly from 42 the previous year, the state's fire marshal's office announced last week, according to The Associated Press. Typically, children and the elderly are the most at risk when it comes to fire fatalities.
“To have no children, no one under the age of 18, die in a fire in Massachusetts is an amazing accomplishment,” Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said in a statement.
Ostroskey pointed to the Student Awareness of Fire Education Program (SAFE), which provides fire safety education for kids, as the reason for the lack of fire-related deaths among Massachusetts children. Through the program, children learn about practicing fire drills, safe cooking and the upkeep of smoke alarms, as well as candle, match and lighter safety.
Records concerning the state's fire-related deaths have been collected and maintained by the fire marshal's office going back to the 1940s, according to the AP.
