Not every structure fire can be prevented—there’s a reason nearly every town, no matter how small, has a dedicated career or volunteer fire department. But there are proven steps public and affordable housing organizations can take to reduce the risk of fires and ensure residents, visitors, and staff remain safe if a fire does occur.

Poverty conditions don’t invariably lead to more fires but do present certain risk factors that should be addressed on a community-by-community basis, according to a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) research report published in 2021. The report cites several studies conducted over the last five decades that have made the connection between poverty and elevated fire risk.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has started enforcing a new law that requires carbon monoxide detectors in most federally-assisted housing units.

Wildfires are unplanned and uncontrolled fires that burn in natural areas but can spread quickly and devastate communities. They often begin unnoticed and spread quickly in dry conditions.

Fire safety is a collective effort between property management, maintenance staff, and residents. Share these key multifamily fire safety tips with staff and residents to help prevent dangerous and destructive fires.