The death of six-year-old David Macias in a Victoria, Texas, fire on Sunday, December 28, occurred when no fire alarms sounded. His brother Gabriel Macias, 7, suffered smoke inhalation and burns to 40 percent of his body and is recovering at Shriner’s Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas.
This tragedy has prompted the Crossroads Chapter of the American Red Cross to begin a major campaign to make sure every home in the Crossroads area has working smoke alarms. Fire safety advocates are promoting the free smoke alarm program in an effort to reduce the number of home fire fatalities and injuries.
The Victoria Advocate tells MHProNews that officials think a space heater was the cause of the early Sunday morning fire, and the preliminary investigation suggests that paper material ignited near the heater in the room the two boys shared.
Two other siblings slept in the room next door. The stepfather to three of the children happened to wake up and see the smoke, but when he opened the door to the boys’ room, it was too late – the fire had been burning for awhile. The room was filled with carbon monoxide, causing damage to the boys’ lungs.
“The manufactured home had smoke detectors, but they weren’t working,” Ron Pray, Victoria County fire marshal, explained. “If the smoke detectors had been working, the boys would have awakened.”
This fire came just a few weeks after five children died in another manufactured home fire in the neighboring town of Edna. Pray explained that “It is as important as ever to get the word out about testing smoke alarms monthly.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a fire in half. Victoria (City) Fire Marshal Tom Legler said that “Smoke alarms give everybody a fighting chance.” He suggested making a reminder on calendars and smartphones for a specific day each month to check whether the alarm works. He also said that residents could simply use a broomstick to test the alarm if it’s too high on the wall or ceiling.
In addition, he said that the Victoria fire marshal staff and firefighters can provide additional help and can change alarm batteries on request. “If invited, they will go to the home to check whether the detector is adequate and conduct a fire safety survey,” Legler said. In addition, he said that the city offers free smoke alarms and installation for those who need financial assistance.
Victoria County Fire Marshal Pray said he supports this campaign, especially for “those out in the county who might not realize they face additional safety concerns.” One thing that can lead to fires, he said, is that rural homes are not inspected or subject to regulations like the ones in the city. He’s been to manufactured homes with five or six room additions on which the homeowners did their own electrical work.
He cautions homeowners not to overload electrical outlets, be careful not to leave hot appliances unattended and to follow directions on operating space heaters. “This is especially dangerous in older manufactured homes,” he said. “They tend to burn very quickly because of the materials they are made of.”
No clear information was available about the factory built home that burned, revealing if it was constructed before or after the HUD Code regulations went into effect on June 15, 1976. Manufactured homes built according to HUD specifications are far more fire resistant and perform better at preventing losses than conventional construction (see NFPA report referenced below). However, if people make additions and do their own electrical wiring – or fail to keep working smoke detectors – those action present additional hazards not caused by the manufactured home or its design. ##
See related article: http://www.mhpronews.com/blogs/daily-business-news/manufactured-homes-safer-in-fires-than-sticks-and-bricks-houses/
(Photo Credit: Victoria, Texas, Advocate)
