SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The St. Paul Fire Department typically responds to more than 60,000 calls a year.
But officials say that 2024 has gotten off to a difficult start. In January alone, five people died following fires.
Four of those people - all of whom were young children - died after a house fire in St. Paul in early January. We first reported it on KARE 11 Sunrise.
Investigators believe an unattended candle started the fire. Crews that responded to the scene that day say they're still processing what happened.
"They're going to say they're good, right? We're good. We're fine. We're ready to go again," said St. Paul Fire Chief Butch Inks. "But it's something they will think about the rest of their career."
Officials say if there's a fire at your home, you only have about 3 minutes to get out, so you must have a well-thought-out escape plan.
"Some people are doing it, some people are not doing it, and so that creates a challenge," Inks said.
Inks has been with the fire department for almost 30 years. He said he can remember multiple situations when having an escape plan saved lives.
"I remember one particular fire had a pretty large family, a mom, dad, probably four or five kids. And I remember them talking about how what they talked about or what they planned worked, and they were all out," Inks said. "It was a significant fire. A fire that would have harmed them if they didn't get out."
So, what does a good plan look like?
St. Paul Fire Deputy Chief Roy Mokosso said it starts with having smoke alarms.
"Not only having them but testing them on a regular basis. And letting your kids know - if you have children - what that sounds like because folks will hear it and be scared," Mokosso said.
When you make your plan, gather your family and draw a map of your home that includes all doors and windows. And then work to find two ways out of every room.
"Every room should have two exits. One is most likely a door, and the other one could possibly be a window," Mokosso said. "If that window is on the second floor, there needs to be a way in that room that, whether it's an escape ladder or something like that, that you can safely get out of that room."
Know that the path you plan out could get blocked by flames, so you should always have a backup plan.
"There are scenarios you could run," Mokosso said.
Your plan should also include an outside meeting place.
"So, you know, they're not going to different locations. Some to their friend's house, some to the neighbor," Mokosso said.
Most importantly, don't just have an escape plan, but practice the escape plan, too.
For those who live in an apartment, Mokosso recommends getting familiar with your closest stairwell exits since elevators may not work.
"We're all busy, and having that structured plan in place is for some people another thing to do today, right? But, you know, we would love that to be a priority. Love that to be practiced, rehearsed," Inks said.
The department also highlighted its program called Project Safe Haven. It's where St. Paul homeowners can get free smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and StoveTop Fire Stops, which are devices that can put out a fire on your stove in seconds.
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