New Jersey has the 10th lowest rate of fire deaths in the nation, according to numbers compiled by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
The state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) on Wednesday announced the findings measuring the number of fire deaths per million people.
According to the numbers compiled by NFPA, New Jersey between 2003 and 2007 saw 7.1 deaths per million people. The nationwide average in that time span was 10.9.
“This is quite and accomplishment, given the fact that New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country,” DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa said in a statement released by her office.
“Not many statewide programs can claim this type of success over such an extended period of time.”
The NFPA report credits state programs including universal fire safety education and increased use of home fire protection systems, along with strong enforcement of solid fire codes, with helping achieve New Jersey’s lower rate of deaths.
Altogether, 56 people in New Jersey were killed in fires between 2003 and 2007. That’s a 67 percent dip from the 170 deaths reported between 1980 and 1984, when the rate was 22.9 deaths per million people.