Hamilton County has seen at least eight fire-related deaths so far in 2026. The county averages around 11 accidental fire deaths annually, according to coroner’s office data.
Fire departments in the area are working to educate the public on things they can do to prevent fires and protect themselves in the event of a blaze.
On Cincinnati Edition, we speak with Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank C. McKinley about factors that could be at play when it comes to the increase in fatalities and prevention measures you can take.
Guests:
- Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank C. McKinley
Beginning at noon, call 513-419-7100 or email talk@wvxu.org to have your voice heard on this topic. You can catch a recorded replay at 8 p.m.
A transcript of this conversation is below.
This episode was transcribed using a combination of AI speech recognition and human editors and has been lightly edited for clarity. It may contain errors. Please check the corresponding audio before quoting in print.
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Lucy: Fire deaths are up this year in Cincinnati. Are investigators seeing any patterns? And what can you do to prepare your home and your family in case of fire. This is Cincinnati edition on WVXU, I'm Lucy May. Joining me now is Cincinnati Fire Chief, Frank McKinley, thanks so much for being here, Chief McKinley. Hamilton County has had eight fire deaths so far this year, seven of those have been within the city of Cincinnati. Is that a lot more than usual?
Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley: Yes, what we found is it's 500 percent higher than what it's been the past year.
Lucy: Oh my gosh - 500 percent. That seems like a huge increase. Well, and it seems like tragic fire deaths have been in the news, even beyond Hamilton County. Just 10 days ago, a well known National Hockey League reporter was killed in a house fire with her three children in Minnesota. And at the beginning of this month, a mother in Clinton County died in a house fire with her five children. How do fires with high casualties, numbers like this happen?
Chief McKinley: Well, it's a lot of contributing factors. And some of the things that we've seen is we've made calls to vulnerable populations. And so if it's the very young, if it's the elderly, if it's individuals with handicaps or disabilities that can't self evacuate, there are a lot of contributing factors. Building construction also plays a role in that, and so there are a lot of variables that contribute to these tragic events.
Lucy: Has the city seen an increase in the number of fire calls? People calling and saying, "Hey, I suspect there's a fire happening."
Chief Frank McKinley: Well, actually, the Cincinnati Fire Department has made less calls during the last three months, as compared to 2025. But a lot of these fires have reached advanced stages very early, and what that means is, usually when fire personnel gets on scene, these fires are coming through the roof, and it's a really difficult task to rescue. Our firefighters have done an incredible job of being very aggressive in interior attacks and primary searches and conducting rescue initiatives. And so a lot of times when we see those type of things, those have a huge factor on the outcome.
Lucy: Is that why more people have died when fire calls haven't increased just because the fires have been in these advanced stages, or have you been able to identify other reasons?
Chief McKinley: Well, the severity of it actually has to do with us arriving on scene when these fires have reached these advanced stages. What we have seen is, again, we talked about the vulnerable populations. We talked about the different times of day that these fires occur, and sometimes they go undetected for so long, and that's also a big factor. When we look at older building construction, a lot of times it can reach advanced stages, which makes it very difficult to do interior fire attacks in some situations.
Lucy: And that's the case with older buildings, more so than new construction. What's the difference there?
Chief McKinley: Well, when we look at some of the different construction, more modern construction, uses platform when we talk about residential. And what we're seeing is a balloon frame construction in some of these homes, which allow the fire to extend from the basement or the cellar all the way to the attic space. And so sometimes it can travel undetected.
Lucy: So it's basically kind of sneaking in the walls, essentially from from a lower level all the way up to the roof?
Chief McKinley: Absolutely.
Lucy: My goodness. Well, we're talking about factors at play with the increase in fire deaths this year, and we're going to talk about how to prepare your home and family in case of fire. Do you have questions or comments? Give us a call at 513-419-7100, or you can email talk@wvxu.org. What kinds of trends has the Cincinnati Fire Department seen in the data that you all have analyzed for the fatal fires this year? Is there a trend in the types of construction, the types of neighborhoods? What are you all seeing in that data?
Chief McKinley: Thank you. That's a very good question, and there are several variables that play into some of these tragic outcomes. Again, we responded to a fire call that came from a police officer that was patrolling the area. So we don't know exactly how long that fire had been burning prior to our arrival. And so some of these calls come from neighbors that happen to smell smoke, go outside and see it. And so a lot of times these are detected late in a fire incident and it makes it more difficult.
Lucy: Does time of day, when it happens? Does that have a big impact on how long it can burn? I'm thinking the middle of night for some people, can be trickier to detect than maybe, you know, noon or something.
Chief McKinley: Right. And that's why we really encourage the citizens of Cincinnati and Hamilton County to make sure that they have functioning smoke alarms, because that's the early detection. And the earlier that these fires are detected, the more favorable outcome we can have.
Lucy: Yeah, what you've been seeing so far this year, and the work you've been doing to kind of analyze the data. Has any of that changed the department's outreach and educational efforts when it comes to really educating people about fire safety and prevention?
Chief McKinley: Yes, because a lot of times what we do, we have a very robust fire prevention bureau, and they do an outstanding job of educating the public, educating at schools, educating at public gatherings and different types of events, and so we'd like to make sure that we use language that is crafted toward the different populations. Meaning that when we go to schools, we want to make sure that we communicate to small children, once they make it outside, don't reenter the structure. The best thing that they could do is an inform a firefighter when they arrive on scene. And so there are other initiatives that we have, neighbors looking out for neighbors is something that we're launching very soon. And really what that does, it places an emphasis on those vulnerable populations, making sure we can identify them, making sure that we can do things to help them prevent fires from occurring. And so we really think that this is going to be a very good grassroots community based initiative to really help the public know what they can do to stay safe.
Lucy: Yeah, can you tell me more about that initiative? When you say neighbors helping neighbors, is it kind of figuring out, okay, who do I live near, who might have mobility issues, or might, you know, maybe they have hearing issues or something like that? What are you really going to be encouraging people to do?
Chief McKinley: Right. Identifying those vulnerable populations. Again, just like you said, if there's a neighbor with a disability just to knock on the door. On the flyer, there's a QR code that the citizens can scan to actually give them additional information. What actually do I say when I knock on a neighbor's door? And that's real important. So we provide a script, we also provide additional resources that they can request, and so we want to make sure that the Cincinnati Fire Department is doing everything that we can to curtail the message for these populations and for neighbors in general.
Lucy: Sure. Well, that script, I imagine, is so important, because if I'm somebody who's vulnerable, then I know I'm vulnerable. And if the stranger is knocking on my door, I want to know what they're there for.
Chief McKinley: Absolutely, absolutely. And it's very important.
Lucy: What is the Cincinnati Fire Department's average response time?
Chief McKinley: Well, we actually respond better than the NFPA standard. We're making every fire call within 480 seconds, 90% of the time. And what we see our trend is 98% of the time. We're actually meeting that metric. And so the NFPA standard, 1710 actually says 90% of the calls should be there in 480 seconds. And the Cincinnati Fire Department does an incredible job of responding. And so usually we make it 98% of the times in 480 seconds.
Lucy: Wow. So four minutes or less, you're there 98% of the time. Absolutely, that seems like a really fast response time.
Chief McKinley: Yes, Cincinnati Fire Department has 26 firehouses, and so we're strategically placed where we can respond, and we pay attention to things like population density and different things critical infrastructure. And so a lot of our fire houses are strategically located to be able to provide this service to the citizens.
Lucy: How quickly can fire grow and spread once it starts? You talked about how it's really tough when firefighters arrive on the scene and they don't know how long a fire has been burning, how quickly can it really take over?
Chief McKinley: Well, it really depends on the fuel load. For instance, when we talk about residential furniture, things of that nature, if we talk about a Christmas tree, we can see a full room be fully involved within a matter of seconds. And so it just really depends on the fuel load. What's burning? Is it carpet? Is it surface, and things of that nature? And so when we look at the combustible materials that are located in these structures, those are the things that really contribute to the spread of the fire.
Lucy: You mentioned furniture. I guess are those the kinds of things we all have inside our homes that are a factor in this like the material that most furniture is made of these days?
Chief McKinley: Yes, a lot of times you see a lot of synthetic material used in this furnishing, and it really contributes to the fuel load in these fires. They make them burn quicker. They make them burn hotter. And so we try to make sure that residents are educated on what's in their house. It's real important to know that. And a lot of things that we also see is when people tend to hoard or have exit routes blocked and don't have adequate egress. And so it's real important for us to get that message out to the community so they can understand that they're prepared, that they're safe and that they do everything that they can to prevent fires from happening.
Lucy: Sure. So it's not only what the things are made of, but how much stuff you have packed into a home that can really increase that fuel load?
Chief McKinley: Absolutely.
Lucy: Well that is important information. We're going to continue our conversation after a short break, and later in the program, we'll discuss a fund that's helping pay for millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements across Greater Cincinnati. This is Cincinnati Edition.
Lucy: You're listening to Cincinnati Edition on WVXU, I'm Lucy May. We're back with our conversation about fire deaths in Cincinnati and what you can do to prepare yourself and your home in case of fire. My guest is Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley. You can join the conversation by calling 513-419-7100, or you can email talk@wvxu.org. Chief, at the beginning of our conversation, we were talking about these tragic fire deaths and the big increase that the city has seen this year compared to this time last year in previous years. Is it the flames that kill most people, or is it smoke inhalation, the smoke that's created by all these materials that we were talking about that can burn in a home?
Chief McKinley: Thank you. And contrary to popular belief, it's not the actual flame. It is smoke inhalation. Smoke inhalation contributes to a lot of fire deaths.
Lucy: Is it that smoke can build up really quickly in a home? Can it, once a fire gets started?
Chief McKinley: Yes, it's a byproduct of incomplete combustion, and so it produces a lot of smoke, specifically when we were talking about synthetic furniture and the materials that are in them. So they contribute to a lot of smoke byproduct.
Lucy: Yeah, and I imagine that smoke can make it very difficult for people to find their way out too. Once a home or apartment fills with smoke.
Chief McKinley: Absolutely. And the heat of the fire, the heat of the smoke being inhaled, actually makes it very debilitating and difficult, and that's why we wear our air mask when we go into these structure fires.
Lucy: You were talking before about the types of homes that can burn more easily - this older construction. Cincinnati has a lot of older housing stock. Is part of what you're doing really educating people about that, how this construction can make a difference in how fires can spread through a home?
Chief McKinley: Not necessarily. One of the things that we wanted to educate the public about is what they can do. There are a lot of initiatives and outreach efforts that we have going on. A lot of the neighborhoods where we see some of these tragic events occur; we do door hanger distributions on the surrounding streets to each incident. We've also collaborated with other organizations to try to make sure that this messaging is more pronounced and gets gets out to the public. Also, on the website, we have a home safety checklist and evacuation plan. And all of these together help make communities safer. Making sure that those smoke alarms have batteries in it, making sure they know when to change the batteries. And we encourage them to change it twice a year during time change. That way they know every year that when daylight saving times comes comes along, that they should change change the battery and the smoke alarm.
Lucy: Yeah, I want to talk more about smoke detectors because they seem like such an important tool for that early notification, finding out right away. I wonder if people who rent their homes can be more vulnerable on that front. I know in a in a past life, I did a lot of interviews with people in apartment homes that were lower income, and I heard chirping smoke detectors very frequently, kind of going on in the background. When I'd ask about it, they'd say, 'Oh, the landlord needs to change that' or whatever. And it hadn't happened is, is that a point of vulnerability for people if they're renting? And maybe they don't think they're in charge of changing those batteries?
Chief McKinley: Well, yes, and they are responsible for changing those batteries. And so that's another point that we make sure that we emphasize when we speak with residents that they understand it's their responsibility to make sure that the smoke detectors, smoke alarms are properly installed, not just put up anywhere. It's real important. And so CFD does a good job of getting out and installing smoke alarms. And it's very important. We don't just hand them to residents. We install them. And so you can find more information about that on the website.
Lucy: Okay, you know, when you mentioned that, when the fire department shows up, and you don't know how long the fire has been burning, that can make such a huge difference. How much difference can just a few minutes make? I mean, you've got that quick response time, but if the fire's been burning already, you know, five or 10 minutes by the time you get there, how much difference can that make for saving a home and saving lives.
Chief McKinley: Right, and that's our number one priority is life safety, followed by property conservation. So it's very important for us when we arrive on scene to be able to make a determination. There's a lot of analysis that goes on when we arrive on scene, where do we want to put the ladder? What point of entry do we want to make? And so there are a lot of factors just based off of what we see when we arrive on scene. And seconds matter when these fires occur a lot of times. If we can get information quickly, we work with neighbors, we listen, we have to process a lot of information very quickly to make the most appropriate action and take those next steps.
Lucy: Yeah, we were talking about the importance of smoke detectors working smoke detectors and making sure they're installed properly. Should people contact the Cincinnati Fire Department if they have questions about that, or if they want help or advice about installing smoke detectors?
Chief McKinley: Absolutely, we're here as a resource. We're here as a partner to the communities and so they can request to have a smoke alarm installed. They can go to the website and make that that request, and we'd like to talk to them when we come out, and educate them further on things and steps that they can take to make sure that their family is safe, making sure that they have an appropriate evacuation plan, where they have a meet up location, things that are very important and that every family should know.
Lucy: Yeah, I wanted to ask you about that, because working smoke detectors, as you said, are critically important, but I want to make sure we all know what else we should do to be prepared in the event of a fire. Is it important to have fire extinguishers? How many should we have? What kind of plan should people have for evacuation that sort of thing?
Chief McKinley: Well, one of the things that contributes to a lot of residential fires is cooking fires, and so it would be very advantageous to have a smoke fire extinguisher located under the sink, and also make sure that it's within date. And so these things are very important. And so when we go out to different communities and we educate the public, we make sure that we not only tell them what type of fire extinguisher they need, but how to use it.
Lucy: That's great. Because, I tell you, I've never had to use a fire extinguisher, knock on wood, but I see them and I think I might mess that up, like, How hard are they to figure out if you've never used one before?
Chief McKinley: It's pretty simple. There are a lot of videos that you can find online, but also, when we go out, we show individuals how to use them. We use acronyms like P.A.S.S. Pull: pull the pin. Aim, squeeze and sweep. Things like that to try to make it memorable for them, and that they make sure that in event that they do need to use an extinguisher, that they actually know how to.
Lucy: You mentioned before that firefighters wear masks to protect themselves from the smoke that these fires generate and the toxic, you know, smoke that can be part of a fire. Does that mean residents of apartments or homes should have some kind of mask that they keep handy? I mean, does it help to have even a mask like we were wearing during COVID? I mean, should that be part of your kind of toolkit that you have on hand?
Chief McKinley: Well, not necessarily, because, again, we love to emphasize the importance of smoke alarms. You know, early detection is key to safety, having a safe outcome of a fire, and so when that smoke alarm does go off, we want to make sure that they implement, or they incorporate an exit strategy. Making sure that they have multiple points of egress, knowing where the meeting point is, making sure that fire has been notified. These are important steps, and they actually go together. And so when a smoke alarm goes off, then everyone should exit and not look for different things, not look for toys and not look for keys and things. The best thing at that point that you could do is actually find the best means of egress.
Lucy: Do you think most people think about escape routes in a fire and talk to their kids about that? I mean, I know that's something you should do, but do you think people actually do it?
Chief McKinley: I would love to think that that happens all the time. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and we find a lot of times. And when we go out to schools, we'd like to make sure that we talk to the kids about it. And believe it or not, these kids like to say, 'Hey, the fire department came out to the school today. We need an exit strategy. We need to make sure we have a meeting point.' And it's actually sometimes the kids that initiate the actions, the steps needed to make sure that you can make it out in the event of a fire.
Lucy: Yeah, that's great to hear. I imagine some parents might worry, "Gosh, am I going to scare my child if I'm talking about this?' But it sounds like you all go into schools and talk to them about it. You're not scaring them, you're inspiring them.
Chief McKinley: Right, and that's why it's important for Cincinnati Fire Department to get out into the schools. We take our fire gear and we show it to them. We even allow them to put it on. They really enjoy that, But it's important for them to understand, if they see us, that they don't get afraid. A lot of times, kids can hide underneath the bed, in closets, thinking that they're protecting themselves. And so we want to make sure that we we stress the importance that you know what a firefighter looks like, you know what the mask looks like, and it's not a monster coming after you. And so these things are very critical, you know, for us, and very important. And so we like to make sure that when we get out to the schools. We cater to different age groups, whether it's a high school or an elementary school, so we want to make sure that the message isn't lost.
Lucy: Yeah. What about people who have pets? I know I have pets. A lot of people have pets, and pets aren't always the most cooperative about exiting. What's your advice to people about trying to get those pets out of a out of a house if it's there's a fire?
Chief McKinley: Unfortunately, I've seen a number of times that pets have not made it out of fires, and it's very unfortunate. Sometimes we're able to actually rescue pets. The only rescue that I've made in my firefighter career, it was a pet.
Lucy: What kind of pet?
Chief McKinley: It was a dog, and it was a successful outcome.
Lucy: Well, that's great. That's great. Where was the dog hiding under something?
Chief McKinley: Well, actually, the ceiling had fallen, and when it knocked us to the ground, I would say that the dog actually found me, and so we made a grab and got out safe.
Lucy: You rescued each other, I guess. That's amazing. Well, I know you said that. You know people shouldn't stop to be looking for keys or toys or anything like that. Get out of that burning structure. But what documents should people make sure they have copies of in case they do need to leave a burning house or apartment quickly.
Chief McKinley: Well, one thing that citizens can do is they can buy fire boxes. So if it's critical documents that they have, they can put them in boxes that are fire-rated to survive structure fire. And so when that smoke detector, that smoke alarm, goes off, it's very important, and I can't stress it enough, at that moment, you need to exit the residence and not reenter for anything.
Lucy: Even those pets.
Chief McKinley: Even the pets. Because the best thing that you can do is talk to a firefighter when they arrive on scene. While we're processing that information, we're determining which strategy to use. We take that information and we know what we're looking for or where a pet might be located.
Lucy: Okay, so we've talked about a lot of strategies. The importance of working smoke detectors, changing those batteries twice a year, making sure they're installed properly. All the education that the fire department does. Is there another kind of number one tip that you can offer for really being prepared in the event of a fire. Anything that people don't think of that that you really want to stress?
Chief McKinley: Well, I know it sounds somewhat repetitive, but early detection is very critical. We've seen more successful outcomes in structure fires because of functioning smoke alarms, and that's very important. Secondly, just the complete education; knowledge about, you know, how to prevent fires. But in case a fire happens, having exit strategies, making sure that you pass information on to firefighters, if there are any other people located in the house and where might they be located.
Lucy: Great advice. Well, I have been talking with Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley. Thank you so much for your time today, Chief.
Chief McKinley: Thank you so much.