Every 90 seconds a house fire is reported in the U.S. That is an average of 1.9 million fires that are documented each year. Direct property loss due to home fires is estimated at $7.3 billion annually, says FEMA.
Children playing with fire set more than 100,000 of these fires annually. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, among children age 14 and under, an estimated 2,800 are injured and 850 are killed each year in residential fires nationwide.
This is why Sterling & Sterling Inc., an insurance broker firm, and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, a property and casualty (P&C) insurance company, have teamed up to support fire safety education.
The two companies recently awarded a $20,000 grant to Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center, in Uniondale, N.Y., for the purchase of a high-tech, interactive, and educational robot dog.
"This is an innovative teaching tool that will enhance our ability to promote fire safety awareness," says Alana Petrocelli, executive director of the museum.
The grant is part of a nationwide philanthropic program funded by Fireman's Fund. The program is designed to provide needed equipment, training and educational tools to local fire departments and burn prevention organizations.
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