As someone who owns a home in Massachusetts—and works as a realtor—I’m always alert not just to curb appeal and square footage, but also to the hidden safety features that make a house a true home. When I came across Bryan Walsh’s recent Vox article “How America Cut Deadly City Fires in Half,” I felt both encouraged and challenged. The U.S. has made remarkable progress, and there’s a lot we can apply right here in Mass.
Over the past several decades, America has made enormous strides in reducing fire risk at home. These lessons are highly relevant here in Massachusetts, where our housing stock is older and our winters long.
1. Dramatic reduction in fire deaths.
Since 1980, the per-capita civilian fire death rate has dropped by about two-thirds. Total reported fires are down by half, and injuries have fallen in parallel.
2. Smoke alarms save lives.
Homes with working smoke alarms—especially interconnected or hardwired ones with backup batteries—have substantially lower death rates than those without alarms or with non-functional ones.
3. Sprinklers are highly effective.
When sprinklers are present, death rates per fire are about 90% lower. This is especially impactful in newer multifamily housing.
4. Safer cigarettes, furniture, and finishes.
The adoption of fire-safe cigarettes and smolder-resistant upholstered furniture has reduced ignition risks.
5. Heating, wiring, and code improvements matter.
Better heating equipment, safer wiring (such as arc-fault circuit interrupters), and stricter codes have made modern homes much safer.
6. Progress is uneven.
Older homes, lower-income households, and vulnerable populations remain at much higher risk—often due to outdated wiring, missing or broken alarms, or unsafe heating practices.
| Role | Actionable Steps | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner | Upgrade smoke/CO detectors (interconnected, hardwired, tested monthly, replace old units). | Many fires still occur in homes without working alarms. |
| Homeowner | Consider sprinklers or automatic extinguishing systems, especially when renovating or in multifamily housing. | Sprinklers reduce fatalities by up to 90%. |
| Homeowner | Choose safer furniture and finishes, avoid overloaded outlets, ensure heaters are modern. | Reduces ignition risks and prevents escalation. |
| Homeowner | Modernize electrical and heating systems; replace outdated wiring; use heaters with shutoffs. | Older Massachusetts homes often have aging systems. |
| Homeowner | Create a fire escape plan and practice drills. | Preparedness saves lives when prevention isn’t enough. |
| Realtor | Highlight safety features (alarms, sprinklers, updated systems) in listings. | Buyers value safety; it boosts marketability and can lower insurance costs. |
| Realtor | Provide fire-safety checklists to sellers and buyers. | Adds value as an agent while improving community safety. |
| Community/Advocacy | Support code enforcement, subsidies for upgrades, and safety outreach in older or lower-income neighborhoods. | National gains came from regulation + investment; local focus can extend progress. |
Aging housing stock. Many homes are 100+ years old, with outdated wiring, plaster walls, and non-central heating.
Affordability. Safety upgrades like sprinklers or rewiring can be expensive.
Patchwork codes. Local enforcement varies; older homes are often grandfathered.
Unsafe habits. Even in safe homes, behaviors like unmonitored space heaters or overloaded circuits increase risk.
Potential solutions:
State or local grant programs to support safety upgrades for low-income homeowners.
Tax incentives or insurance discounts for fire-safe homes.
Public awareness campaigns in partnership with fire departments.
Realtors and contractors advocating for safety improvements during renovations.
The steady decline in fire deaths shows what’s possible: progress through small, consistent improvements in technology, codes, and behavior.
For Massachusetts, the opportunity lies in applying these lessons to our unique challenges—especially our older housing stock and vulnerable communities. By working together—homeowners, realtors, officials, and fire departments—we can make homes safer, strengthen communities, and create more resilient neighborhoods.
Safer homes aren’t just about protection. They add value, give peace of mind, and make Massachusetts a stronger, safer place to live. If you're interested in how you can also improve the indoor air quality of your home, checkout the tool I use to keep track of mine.