The Wall Street Journal looks into the decline in fire deaths:
After recording the fewest deaths attributable to fire last year, New York is once again on pace to break that record for 2010, officials said Wednesday.
Through Dec. 1, there have been 56 civilian fire deaths in 2010, compared with 68 in the same period last year, according to the Fire Department. In 2009, there were a total of 73 deaths as a result of fires — the lowest recorded tally since 1919, when 77 New Yorkers died in fires.
An FDNY spokesman said the drop was largely due to improved fire-safety education.The reduction in fire deaths also comes after several firehouses were closed to save the city money and as the department operates with 300 fewer firefighters than in recent years.
