Arkansas fire-related deaths surpass 2024 total

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas state officials reported Monday that fire-related deaths in the state have surpassed last year’s total.

Officials with the Arkansas State Fire Marshal’s Office reported that there have been 34 deaths so far this year, passing the 2024 total of 27 fire-related deaths.

Arkansas fire-related deaths have stayed close in recent years, with 38 reported in 2021, 35 in 2022 and 34 in 2023.

State Fire Marshal’s Community Risk Reduction Specialist Eddie Anderson said the majority of the deaths reported are due to the lack of working smoke detectors in homes.

“You only have 2 to 3 minutes to get out of a home if a fire occurs,” Anderson said. “Having a working smoke detector increases your chances of surviving a house fire by 60 percent. Not having one could put you and your family in danger.”

According to state officials, data shows that the fire death rate per 1,000 fires in Arkansas is higher than the national average.

The Arkansas State Fire Marshal’s Office urges all residents to install smoke detectors on every level of their homes, test them monthly and replace them every 10 years or the year recommended by the manufacturer.