The Chicago Fire Department today reported 35 fire related deaths for Chicago in the year 2004, which are 20 fewer than in 2003.

This year’s numbers are nearly 150 less than 1980 when the city hit a high of 185 deaths. Prior to 2004, the lowest annual number of fire related deaths was in 1998 with 47 reported.

"Any death, especially a preventable fire death, is a tragedy," said Fire Commissioner Cortez Trotter. "We will not rest until we are able to bring that number as close to zero as possible. We will continue to develop policies and educational programs that promote fire safety and prevention to even further minimize these fatalities."

The Chicago Fire Department believes the record reduction is a result of continued overall proactive fire safety measures the City has taken. Historically, the City of Chicago has formulated and implemented policies to improve fire safety in every building and residence enhancing the safety of all Chicagoans. Over the years, the Chicago Fire Department has placed greater emphasis on fire safety education, working closer with children, seniors, and the community as a whole; and equal importance has been placed on enhancing fire prevention policies. All these measures have positively contributed to the overall reduction of fire related deaths.

"We must continue dedicating more resources in the community because that's where most of the fire related deaths happen," added Commissioner Trotter. "Our children and seniors are the most fragile of our society and we will continue work closely with the community to do all we can to increase fire safety and protection."

Of the 35 Fire deaths reported in 2004, 16 percent were under the age of 18. Of those, 30 percent were between the age of 19 and 50. More than half of the deaths (54%) were of victims over 51 years old. As of November of 2004, 60 percent of fires in Chicago took place in 2-story homes and 97 percent of those homes did not have working smoke detectors.

In the fall of 2004, for the first time ever, the Chicago Fire Department held two fire prevention awareness marches in south and west side neighborhoods where most fire deaths take place. In 2005, Commissioner Trotter will further enhance these efforts by increasing resources and programs that address fires in these and other communities.