Fires kill 15 children in Ohio in 2014 and 11 so far this year

COLUMBUS (AP) — Fires killed 15 children in Ohio last year and have killed at least 11 youngsters in just the first two months of 2015, according to the state fire marshal’s office.

Many factors affect those statistics, but the chief of the state Bureau of Fire Prevention notes that age is among them. Some children may be too young to escape on their own, Chief Frank Conway said.

“Younger children are more at risk for fire deaths simply because of their age,” he said. Toddlers, for example, “may not understand about the smoke alarm, may not understand about crawling low and getting out. When they’re afraid, they want to go to mom and dad.”

Another important element is the season. During frigid weather, heat sources including wood-burning stoves and kerosene heaters can be fire hazards if they’re not used and maintained properly, Conway said.

Since early November, at least 20 children have died in fires in Ohio.