New York State is leading the nation in house fire deaths, prompting the Firefighters Association of the State of New York to push for more protections through the state Legislature.

According to FASNY, New York has had 45 residential fire deaths so far this year — the most residential fire deaths per state in the country, FASNY officials said. New York also had the most fire deaths in the country in 2017, 2018 and 2019, officials stated.

“The number of home fire deaths in New York this year is startling,” said FASNY President Edward Tase, Jr.

“Code enforcement reform, tax-free smoke detectors, and adequately staffed volunteer fire departments are all factors that can contribute to a safer New York for all. We are calling upon the State to take immediate actions to increase fire safety. In the meantime, we encourage all residents to ensure their smoke detectors are working and that there is at least one present on each floor of the home, and outside sleeping areas. The seconds a smoke detector can give residents during an emergency can truly be lifesaving.”

As a result of these numbers, FASNY is pushing state legislators to enact new legislation to make homes safer. FASNY said they would like to see home safety products, like smoke detectors, be exempt from sales tax. They also want to stop code enforcement funding from being swept into the state’s general fund, officials said.

FASNY officials said they would also like to see an increase in code enforcement in municipalities, and harsher penalties for code violations.