Safer Buildings Can Mean Lower Home Insurance Costs

01/11/2010

Fire prevention efforts are said to be paying off significantly in New York City, which recently cited a significant decline in the number of annual fatalities.

According to an announcement from Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office, 2009 saw 73 civilian fire deaths in the city of New York, which was said to be the lowest number recorded since at least 1919, when 77 such fatalities were recorded.

"The Fire Department's performance in reducing fire fatalities and saving lives by getting to fires faster than ever, when combined with the extraordinary successes achieved by the NYPD in driving down crime to record lows, are the result of hard work, innovation and use of data to achieve results," said Bloomberg.

Besides faster transport, another reason for the improved trend may be building technologies that make structures safer and more fire-resistant.

Homeowners who take additional safety measures, such as purchasing fire ladders and installing sprinkler systems, may find that they are eligible for additional discounts from their insurance companies.