Fire Safety Officials Recommend Precautions in the Wake of a Spike in Fire Related Fatalities

Georgia personal injury attorneys report Georgia fire safety officials are concerned about the sudden spike in fire-related fatalities during the first few weeks of 2013. According to a Henry County fire captain, Georgia has seen 13 fire fatalities during the initial two weeks of January.

This total is twice the number of deaths caused by fire during the same period of 2012. This tragic death toll includes four children who perished in a residential fire in Rockdale County and a fatality in Henry County.

Sabrina Puckett, who is a fire captain in Henry County, has indicated a number of steps to reduce the risk of fire including:

• Only use the type of fuel indicated in heaters that require refilling
• Moving all objects at least three feet from space heaters
• Always keeping smoke alarms equipped with working batteries
• Keep sources of ignition out of the reach of kids
• Limit use of space heaters to those designed to shut off if they are tipped over
• Burn only seasoned wood in fireplaces
• Have your chimney inspected no less than once per year
• Use only licensed contractors to perform electrical work
• Do not remain inside or re-enter a building where you smell smoke
• Instruct your children how to proceed if the fire alarm goes off

Residential fires can result from defective products, such as space heaters that lack safety shut-off measures or that lack proper instructions that do warn consumers of the product’s risk of causing a fire. When a defective product causes a fire that results in serious injury or death, any business involved in the manufacturing or distribution of the product may be liable for injuries or property damage.

Sometimes other residents in a multi-family structure or neighboring home may act unsafely by overloading electrical power strips or leaving heaters unattended. When injury is caused by a fire, experienced personal injury attorneys will need to review reports prepared by fire investigators and may even retain fire experts. The process of determining the origin of a fire can be complicated. Insurance companies often try to avoid paying claims by threatening victims with criminal allegation of arson or fraud. Our Atlanta fire injury attorneys at Montlick and Associates anticipate such strategies so that we can effectively represent our clients in seeking the compensation they are entitled to receive.

Montlick and Associates is available to provide effective legal representation to clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.