Graphic by Edward Andilema / SOC Images.
Every year, the United States experiences an “average of 358,300 homebased fires.”
New Jersey, a state that does not typically experience residential fires to the same degree as others, has been seeing an increasing number in the last few years.
From 2015 to 2019, Hudson County alone reported 10,940 fire incidents, with 38.1% of them occurring within a home.
The subject of what to do in case of a fire has been plastered all throughout news outlets, school drills and is commonly thought of when hearing phrases like “Stop, Drop, and Roll.” Yet, one question still remains: What is truly being done to stop these fires?
This was the question that Serenity Amaker-Mayo, a sophomore at Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, brought up when she spoke with Slice of Culture about her own house fire experience.
“Fire prevention is not really broadcasted as much as it should be in New Jersey,” Amaker-Mayo said. “Technically, we have enough resources, but I feel like the government has been stingy.”
A Survivor’s Perspective
Back in November of 2022, Amaker-Mayo was at a relative’s house, waiting to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with family and friends. Yet, rather than the aroma of oxtails circulating, she began to notice the overwhelming smell of smoke that was slowly filling the air.
Research from EdisonNJ.Gov states that fires typically originate from careless smoking, arson, heating and cooking. However, in Amaker-Mayo’s case, the cause of the fire remained unknown.
“Out of nowhere, we saw a spark in the air and next thing you know, there were flames underneath the air conditioner,” Amaker-Mayo said. “The entire wall began to burn. We didn’t even see it coming.”
Being that the fire was traveling at a quick rate, the family’s first response was to make sure that their elderly grandmother immediately evacuated. And while everyone made it out safe, the home had suffered numerous damages from the roof being caved in to the entire back part of the house being burnt. When asked what could have prevented this incident, Amaker-Mayo spoke about how necessary it is to have a fire plan in place.
“Nobody ever thinks that they will experience a house fire one day. That’s why we all need to prepare.”
Amaker-Mayo said.
Amaker-Mayo isn’t the only victim in Jersey City. In 2023, the Jersey City Fire Department received 535 calls regarding residential house fires. One of those incidents left ten firefighters injured and at least 20 people displaced.
Earlier this year, Hudson County saw over six fires in the span of two months with a total of three fatalities being reported between January and February.
With these incidents becoming more frequent, firefighters like Jan Dayleg have been working hard to ensure that residents have efficient fire safety measures in place.
“Whether it is a CO [carbon monoxide] monitor or smoke detector, just change your batteries,” Dayleg told Slice of Culture.
According to EdisonNJ.Gov, a smoke detector that is intact “doubles a person’s chance of surviving a fire.” However, with 86% of homes in the United States having a smoke detector, 59% of fatalities from a residential fire occurred in homes that did not have a fire alarm (43%) or ones that were poorly functioning (16%).
In order to reduce this statistic, Dayleg has been working at the local fire department for the past five years, trying to serve and equip his Jersey City community with the knowledge and tools to stay safe.
Although Dayleg himself is not a part of the fire prevention team, he praises his colleagues’ efforts in trying to minimize residential fires and educate homeowners.
“Our number one priority as firefighters is life safety. We have fire prevention driving all around the city to make sure that things stay kosher,” Dayleg said.
Despite the attempts made by the fire department to ensure that residents are informed, many people are still unaware of the measures that they can take to protect themselves.
As these fires continue to spread throughout Hudson County, a certain trend can be seen among victims: a majority of them reside in apartments or multi-family homes where dated infrastructure and tight spaces can pose safety hazards.
When Home Is Not Safe
Currently, 36.8% of New Jersey homes are multi-family with Jersey City seeing a 95.5% increase in the last three years. Neighborhoods like Greenville and the Heights are full of these kinds of living spaces as they encompass almost every street, immediately increasing the number of residents in both the area and the home.
Some of them were built with interconnected infrastructure which is a cost saver for landlords but can be a threat to tenants. If one home is experiencing a fire from any of the common causes, these fumes can quickly begin to spread to any other unit within the building.
Other threatening factors include blocked doors, faulty equipment and lack of exit signs.
What Can Be Done?
Understanding the severity of a fire and how simple mistakes can lead to one is not only important, but can be life changing in the case that one occurs.
As Amaker-Mayo mentioned, no one ever expects themselves to be a victim of a house fire. Taking the steps to remain cautious and careful can be of great aid in the long run.
If you are interested in learning more about what you can do to protect yourself, visit websites like NJ.Gov where you can put together an emergency kit and JerseyCityNJ.Gov, which lists several resources for fire prevention and other safety tips.
Keeping people safe is New Jersey officials’ No. 1 priority and both sites place emphasis on this principle.
Get your slice of culture from NJ
Hudson County born & raised
The Locals + The Culture
“Best Grassroots Journalism” @njspj + @njcivicinfo grantee
Last Monday, Filipino busines
H
West New York residents 
Her
