Op-Ed: A Tax Exemption on Safety Products Would Reduce New York’s Home Fire Deaths (The Buffalo News)

New Yorkers may be surprised to learn that we led the nation in residential fire deaths last year, with 154 home fire fatalities statewide between January and December of 2023 according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

What’s worse, New York has been among the top four states for home fire deaths for more than a decade, totaling 1,358 home fire fatalities since 2014. When home fires are so often preventable, it’s disturbing to see that more New Yorkers are killed by them than residents of any other state. It’s time to demand legislative action to strengthen fire safety and prevention measures – a sales tax exemption for home life safety products is a great place to start.

Buffalo residents are no strangers to the devastating impact of fatal home fires. The Nov. 26 Clarence fire, which tragically killed a beloved local resident and four of her dogs, occurred in a home with a non-working smoke detector. You would be hard pressed to find a New Yorker who didn’t believe that all homes should be equipped with fire safety essentials, especially critical tools like smoke detectors. Yet, nearly 3 in 5 U.S. home fire deaths are caused by fires in residences with no smoke alarms or alarms that failed to operate, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. 

It’s up to all of us to ensure that our home life safety products are functional and up to date – but our elected officials have a duty and responsibility to help. That’s why we’re calling on Albany to pass Assembly Bill 5951, sponsored by Assemblymember Monica Wallace, which allows a tax exemption for fire extinguishers, fire alarms, heat alarms or carbon monoxide alarms purchased for residential use. This legislation is not just about lowering financial barriers to life safety products for all New Yorkers, it is a wake up call for residents statewide who don’t have the proper tools to prevent home fire deaths.

In a world where 1 in 4 Americans don’t own fire extinguishers, legislation to encourage the purchase and upkeep of fire and life safety products is more critical than ever.

States with fewer home fire fatalities than New York – including Texas, Florida, Alabama and Virginia – all have sales tax holidays ahead of storm season on emergency supplies including smoke alarms. Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey all have legislation that would make smoke detectors tax free before the Legislative bodies for consideration. New York is a leader in many things, but home fire fatalities should not be one of them. It’s time to take action to make fire safety and prevention more important and accessible for all. 

Edward Tase Jr. is president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York