State fire officials say more Alabamians died this winter because of improper use of heating appliances and other issues.
Spokesman for the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office Steve Holmes tols the Anniston Star that 49 people in the state died in fires between December and February. The number is up from 39 during the time same period in 2012.
Holmes attributed the additional deaths to colder than normal weather and people taking extreme measures to try staying warm.
Spokesman for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Brandon Avila said the poor are disproportionately impacted by winter house fires.
Avila said many low-income households have to resort to different measures to heat their homes. The LIHEAP program budgeted $49 million for heating and cooling costs in Alabama this year.
Topics Alabama
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Virginia Says Airbnb Lacks Insurance License to Offer Host Damage Protection Plan 
Worker’s Refusal of Light Duty Does Not Have to Relate to Injury, Georgia Court Says 
Hacking Group Claims Major Hack of Novo Nordisk and Attempted $25M Extortion 
Claimants of 23andMe Data Breach to Get $46.75M in Settlement Deal 
