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Code 3 Podcast: An inconvenient truth about fire death stats

Dan Byrne shares ideas for how to stem the increasing number of fire deaths in America

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Since 1977, firefighter line-of-duty-deaths have been dropping. You know that already, right? And structure fires are decreasing as well, which you also know.

Here’s something you may not realize: More civilians are dying in fires. It’s true.

Since the 1980s, the rate of fire deaths is up 6%.

How did we get into this situation – and what will it take to fix it?

Daniel Byrne’s is a community support officer for the Burton Fire District in Beaufort County, South Carolina. He’s a third-generation firefighter, and a retired assistant chief of training from the Georgia Air National Guard 165th Fire Department. Bryne’s got some ideas about how the fire service can help lower the incidence of fire deaths in the United States.

Code 3 is hosted by award-winning journalist Scott Orr, who has covered the fire/EMS/police beat for most of his 30-plus year career in news. He’s worked around the country in both TV and print. Orr was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over a decade ago, but that doesn’t stop him from interviewing fire service leaders on issues that concern firefighters around the nation.

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