While it contained much sensible advice, the Nov. 23 Local Living article “Houses burn faster these days, so get out fast” may have left the incorrect impression that fire is a growing problem in the United States. It isn’t. Even as the population has grown significantly, the number of serious fires has fallen by well more than half and the number of fires per capita by about two-thirds. Fire is a serious risk, but rather than making things worse, the past 40 or so years have represented a great triumph in firefighting. The risk of fire is very near its all-time low.

Featured Publications