
The fire took place this past Wednesday night (May 6, 2009), and was reported at 11:16 pm. As reported by all the local newspapers and TV news outlets that I’ve read concerning this emergency, nine persons survived the structural fire, but one resident didn’t make it out and died as a result of the fire it would appear. There could have been more loss of live if it wasn’t for the use of alternate exit routes from the second floor out windows, as well as a good Samaritan neighbor assisting those off the roof escaping the fire with a ladder. The fire is reported to have “started in the hallway with the fire start in bottom” of the stairwell. It was also reported that “A person was lighting a lantern, and was burnt himself,…But he notified all the apartments to let [them] out. There was one deceased, and he was a great man.”

A tragedy like this fire shows the importance of a knowing secondary way to egress/exit a structure if a fire prevents you to do so. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) believes that having a sound escape plan will greatly reduce fire deaths and protect you and your family's safety if a fire occurs. More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires, and approximately 20,000 are injured. Deaths resulting from failed emergency escapes are particularly avoidable.
Always look for that second exit be it at home, in the store shopping, at the movie theater, or hotel when your on vacation. Every year people parish in fires because they didn’t know what to do. Have you prepared a fire escape plan and practiced it? It really doesn’t take but a few minutes in most cases. Start by getting into the habit to locate and learn the use of alternate routes to safety. Don’t wait until there’s a fire to discover windows are painted or nail shut. Check ALL windows to see if they open and ensure passageways are clear of obstructions. Fast actions are needed in a fire and practice helps if you have to put that action into play.
Here’s a YouTube video on “Home Fire Escape,” that shows safe & effective ways of escaping. Such as the fire in the Village of Waverly showed, the majority of fire deaths occur in the home and of those most happen at night between 10pm and 6am. Keep your family safe and practice a home fire drill. Watching and reviewing this video will show what one needs to know and needs to be practiced...