SJFD sees rise in service calls in 2023
By Jenna Wilson
Firefighters responded to an additional 1,000 service calls last year compared to 2022.
According to data from the St. Joseph Fire Department, in 2022, SJFD handled 15,033 service calls. During 2023, the number of calls rose to 16,100.
St. Joseph Fire Inspector Steve Henrichson said the rise is due to several reasons, but a few that stood out to officials were issues with heating sources and overloaded outlets.
“Really the issue with fires starting from heating sources is something we’re seeing year-round,” Henrichson said. “… A/C units and space heaters are being plugged in and the circuit is being overloaded. This is something people especially need to be aware of in older houses. The circuitry is much older and becomes overwhelmed a bit easier.”
Out of the 16,000-plus calls, 130 of them were because of fires in vacant buildings, and 40 of those buildings were not secure.
Officials said it’s difficult to pinpoint the reason these fires may have started, as some were even the result of another blaze, including burning leaves or a fire from a building nearby.
However, as the winter weather continues to hit St. Joseph, there is a growing concern with building fires occurring from homeless occupants.
“We understand why they do this because they want to keep warm,” Henrichson said. “But it’s still a safety hazard as a lot of these buildings don’t have heating sources and they’re trying to make heat any way possible, which often leads to a number of fires we’re rushing to put out.”
Winter weather is here to stay for the next few months, and the fire department wants to remind residents that following certain safety guidelines, including maintaining fireplaces and making sure smoke detectors are working properly, can help reduce the number of fires that occur.
“We know people can’t often predict when a fire is going to start,” Henrichson said. “That’s why you need to make sure your heating equipment is being maintained and have smoke detectors throughout the home. It’s always recommended to have a smoke detector in every bedroom, outside every bedroom, one on every level of the house and then after 10 years, they need to be replaced.”
