A recent survey conducted by insurance company The Hartford placed Jersey City high amongst other US cities based on its risk of household fires. The study examined individual behavior that contributes to fire risk as well as nationally reported data on home fires. Worth noting, risk factors affecting Jersey City’s ranking have improved since a previous study conducted in 2020. Read on for more about the study.
The Study
The study, called The Hartford’s Home Fire Index, ranked 150 US metropolitan areas based on fire risk using information from the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System. Jersey City ranked 13th out of the 150 areas studied.
(Photo: The Hartford)
While Jersey City ranked at high risk for fire damage, the study showed that many risky behaviors have dropped since the last survey, conducted in 2020. The study noted a decrease in behaviors like overloading electrical outlets and falling asleep with a lit candle. New York City ranked 12th and Newark ranked 17th.
Fires in Jersey City
2023 has already been a dramatic year for fires in Jersey City. Two Jersey City firefighters and two civilians were injured and 14 residents were displaced by a fire on January 19th. A fire in downtown Jersey City on Sunday, February 19th caused the death of a man and his dog. A fire on March 8th displaced nine residents, injured six, including four Jersey City police officers, and killed four pet cats. A March 20th fire displaced 14 people. A fire on April 5th displaced 17 residents.
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There have been several other fires in Hudson County this year, including two February fires in Union City and West New York which resulted in over 85 residents losing their homes. The smoke was visible from Manhattan to the east and Montclair to the west. Several nearby fire departments assisted in extinguishing the fires, including from Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Kearny, Secaucus, Montclair and Bloomfield.
Fire Prevention
The Hartford survey marked an increase in some behaviors that decrease fire risk. Some of those behaviors are also recommended by the Jersey City Fire Prevention Bureau, including having a smoke detector in every bedroom; replacing batteries in smoke detectors every year; and having an escape plan in place in the event of a fire.
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Jersey City also runs the Smoke Detector Installation Program, which provides free carbon monoxide detectors and heavy-duty UL-rated power strips to reduce fires and save lives. The Fire Prevention Bureau “conducts routine and cyclical inspections of all Properties and business’ as required by the New Jersey State Fire Code and applicable City Ordinances,” according to its website. Residents can also request Totfinder and Petfinder stickers for their homes by emailing the office at FirePrevention@njjcps.org.
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