Usually in Minnesota when there is a headline like the one above, it refers to the temperature, not so in this case. What I am referring to here is the record low Eden Prairie experienced for fire loss in 2007.
Over the past several years the fire loss in dollars in Eden Prairie has been in the $1,500.000.00 range. Usually the primary contributors to this level of fire loss is in our apartment buildings, where a fire in one unit can spread rapidly to other adjoining units and the subsequent fire, smoke and water damage adds up fast. In 2007, the first full year of our rental housing inspections program, our inspection program has taken steps with the property owners to eliminate numerous potential fire hazards from multi-family properties. The big one that has been reduced has been the illegal BBQs on decks, followed closely by improper kinds of ash trays on decks. In 2007 we did not have one serious fire in a multi-family building, thus no big loss fires.
The goal for 2008 is to keep our record low fire loss streak going. We will continue our efforts of constant inspections and a strong public education program in place. What can be achieved for the long haul remains to be seen, but so far the results of the efforts has been encouraging!
