In aftermath of Warren fire, lessons emerge for all of us

Shock and anguish continue to envelop the city of Warren and the entire Mahoning Valley as funerals are planned for the four children and two adults who perished last Thursday in what is believed to have been the deadliest house fire in that city’s history.

We, too, mourn the dreadful loss of six lives — adults Derek Dorsey and Audrey Johnson and children Derek Dorsey Jr., 11; Ariell Dorsey, 9; Miracle Hugley, 9; and Ja’Niece Hicks, 13. By all accounts, the victims were hard workers, friendly neighbors, responsible parents and precious children who were well-liked in their close-knit Northwest Warren community.

In the short term, we encourage all to rally around surviving family members at this unfortunate time by making a donation to a fund set up for the family and their funeral expenses. Contributions may be made in the name of Johnson-Dorsey at all Huntington Bank branches in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

In the long term, the tragedy calls for all in the Valley to take proactive measures to ensure such a tragedy never recurs. Toward that end, individuals and families must make home-fire prevention priority No. 1 today and every day.

A PREVENTABLE FIRE

The deadly inferno in Warren is particularly heart-rending and frustrating because, according to early reports, it could have been prevented easily.

Warren firefighters, who deserve our community’s gratitude for their speedy, professional response, say they now believe an unattended charcoal grill started the fire. They say the clamshell grill on the back porch of the home may have been used as late as 3 a.m. and that the grill was touching the vinyl siding on the back of the house.

Investigators said they believe the grill ignited the vinyl siding it was touching by about 4 a.m. and led to fire moving up a nearby wooden fence and to the back of the house. The most significant fire damage was done to the Cape Cod home’s top floor, where the bodies of the four children were found.

GRILL FIRES ALL TOO COMMON

Although the deadly scope of Thursday’s tragedy is highly unusual, the incidence of destructive grill fires is not. Each year, 7,700 American homes are damaged or destroyed by failure to follow safety precautions when using charcoal or gas-powered outdoor grills, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Each year between 2004 and 2008, outdoor-grill fires caused an average of 13 deaths, 120 injuries and $70 million in property damage in the U.S., the NFPA adds.

Most, if not all, of those costly fires, however, were preventable. As summer and peak outdoor grilling season begins this week, all backyard barbecuers would be wise to follow these potentially life-saving tips from the NFPA:

Propane and charcoal grills should only be used outdoors.

The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

Keep children and pets away from the grill area at all times.

Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.

Never leave your grill unattended.

Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.

When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool, and then dispose of them in a metal container.

ALL HOMES NEED SMOKE DETECTORS

Even in the absence of such grilling precautions, the victims of last week’s fire may have stood a chance of survival had properly installed and functioning smoke detectors sounded. Firefighters said, however, they discovered no smoke detectors in the Northwest Warren home.

Considering that smoke always precedes a fire, a smoke alarm on every level of a home is one of the best defenses against a major fire, injuries and loss of life. Once installed, smoke detectors must be checked by homeowners at least every two months to ensure batteries are in place and that the unit is in sound working condition.

Of course, none of these hindsight what-could-have-beens will comfort the grief-stricken friends and family members of last week’s fire victims.

Nonetheless, understanding the stark toll that house fires of all causes exact — 2,565 deaths and 13,050 injuries in the U.S. in 2009 — and taking simple ongoing safety precautions would be fitting ways to memorialize the grievous losses of Derek, Audrey, Derek Jr., Ariell, Miracle and Ja’Niece.

By doing so, we as a community can learn from this tragedy and collectively vow that it will never, ever happen again.